HARARE – An armed robber who targeted businesspeople in Harare, Chinhoyi and Chegutu while clad in military fatigues is beginning a nine-year jail sentence.

Calvin Gasura, 32, was convicted after a full trial by Harare magistrate Fadzai Matumbu-Mtombeni.

He landed in the dock for robbing Hazvinei Mutasa of US$30,000 at gunpoint after breaking into her house in Dema.

Gasura will be tried at a later date for separate armed robberies.

Prosecutors proved that on November 10, 2020, Gasura and his accomplices went to Mutasa’s house and fired a gun shot while ordering two builders, Mulambo Mareve and Felix Bieni to lie on the ground.

Gasura, who was armed, then force-marched the two while armed with a gun.

The robbers then broke the house door using a hammer. Once inside, they fired another shot and began assaulting Mutasa’s wife and Mareve before forcing Mutasa upstairs where he retrieved US$30,000 which was stashed in the ceiling.

Gasura and his accomplices also took two mobile phones, a 7,65mm FN Browning pistol, a CCTV server, and Mercedes Benz car keys before taking Mutasa’s wife and the builders upstairs where they tied their hands and legs with shoe laces.

They then used Mutasa’s Toyota IST as their getaway vehicle before dumping it in Vhera village under Chief Seke.

Matumbu-Mtombeni said Gasura deserved a custodial sentence as he had committed a serious crime that had left severe emotional and psychological scars on his victims.

She added: “The offense of robbery is extreme. He even used a firearm to commit the crime and threatened to shoot the complainant in the presence of his family. He also ordered his accomplices to pull the complainant’s wife from the bed.

“They took US$30,000 from the complainant and the money was never recovered. Therefore, the court must exercise its powers and punish the accused effectively.”

The magistrate said prosecutors had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Gasura committed the offence, after his lawyers argued he was falsely accused.

“Lighting was there. Visibility was good. The (State) witness was very close to the accused. They walked together to the house. Accused was not wearing a mask while others were,” Matumbu-Mtombeni said.

“Complainant wanted to closely watch him as he did not want to get shot. It is clear that the complainant took notice of the accused. It is clear that he did not know them before. Accordingly, he is found guilty as charged.”

In passing the nine-year sentence, the magistrate said she considered that Gasura has already spent three years in jail following arrest.