Two Soldiers Get 40 Years Behind Bars For Robbery

Sharon Munjenjema

Two members of the Zimbabwe National Army have been sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment each for armed robbery by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Court Martial.

Zimbabwe National Army Director Public Relations Colonel Alphios Makotore said this in a statement to the media.

Lance Corporal Tatenda Dzimbanhete and Trooper Wilfred Munesi are accused of forcefully taking money worth US$16,830 and R600 from Simon Arnold of Surrey Farm in Marondera on November 15, last year.

Five years was suspended from each of their sentences on condition that they return the money to the complainant.

Dzimbanhete and Munesi both pleaded guilty and were demoted to private and first trooper ranks, respectively, before being discharged from the Zimbabwe National Army.

Colonel Makotore condemned the behaviour of the two.

“The Zimbabwe National Army does not condone cases of indiscipline and misconduct and will continue to pass deterrent sentences on any would-be offenders,” read part of the statement.

Cases of armed robbery have been increasing recently across the country, raising concerns about the public’s access to ammunition.

A number of the cases turned out to have been committed by rogue members of the armed forces.

Recently, a retired police detective Joseph Nemaisa shot and killed three armed robbers, among them, two soldiers, after they had invaded his home and held his family hostage.

Police investigations that followed revealed that some rogue members of the ZNA were operating armed robbery rings from army barracks. Several illegal guns were recovered from a ceiling at One Commando army barracks.