Police officer, five others jailed 12 years for foiled robbery
SIX men, including a police officer, have been jailed 12 years each for orchestrating a foiled armed robbery at a gold mine in Mbire, Mashonaland Central province.
The six appeared at the Guruve Magistrates Court facing one count of armed robbery. They were each slapped with 12 years imprisonment of which two years were conditionally suspended. Therefore, they will each serve an effective 10 years behind bars.
The State case was that on July 9, 2025, Constable Tawanda Chihwani (37) of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Passion Makiyoni (24), Shawn Mufandaedza (38), Carlington Mungazi (33), Tanaka Mhondoro (27) and Playmore Sayi (26) used insider information to plan the robbery.
Disguised in police anti-riot gear and armed with rifles, the gang overpowered a security guard, rounded-up mine workers before stealing cash, gold, carbon material and cellphones, all worth US$7,650.
Court further heard that the robbery was foiled when the mine manager and workers pursued the robbers, forcing them to abandon their getaway car containing incriminating evidence.
Forensic analysis later tied firearms, uniforms and cartridges to the crime.
Police managed to recover US$1,000 cash.
