Two South African nationals have been sentenced to prison by a court in Bulawayo after being found guilty of an armed robbery at a fuel service station, where employees were threatened and cash was stolen.
Nonjabulo Wisdom Nyoni and Chrisvision Ncube, both from Johannesburg, were convicted by the Bulawayo Regional Magistrates’ Court following the incident, which occurred at a fuel station in the Bellevue area of the city.
According to evidence presented in court, the robbery took place in October last year. The two men were armed with a firearm and acted together with another accomplice who has not yet been arrested.
The court heard that during the robbery, fuel station workers were threatened. Cash amounting to about US$3 058 and R550 was taken from the premises.
The US dollar amount stolen is equivalent to roughly R50 000. After the incident, police launched investigations that later led to the arrest of Nyoni and Ncube.
The two suspects were brought before the regional court, where they were charged and later convicted of armed robbery.
Both men were sentenced to eight years in prison. The court, however, suspended part of each sentence on condition of good behaviour.
In addition, the magistrate ordered the two to repay the stolen money by the end of August. The court ruled that failure to repay the money would result in the suspended portion of their sentences being enforced.
The firearm used during the robbery was forfeited to the State. Meanwhile, the third suspect linked to the case remains at large, and police say efforts to locate and arrest the individual are continuing.
Authorities have maintained that violent crimes will be handled firmly, regardless of whether those involved are Zimbabwean citizens or foreign nationals.
