*mArmed gang member jailed 9 years for robbery at funeral parlour
A BULAWAYO man, who was part of a gang, has been sentenced to an effective nine-year prison term for orchestrating an armed robbery at a funeral parlour in the city.
Clifford Desmond Nare (34) of Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, appeared at Tredgold Magistrates Court facing a count of robbery and was convicted after full trial.
The prosecutor told court that on February 1, 2025, at around 2330 hours, the offender and his accomplices, Cordias Nkomo, who is fugitive, Sipho Ncube and Dumisani Ndlovu, who are now both deceased, broke into the premises of Kings and Queens Funeral Services armed with pistols and a sword.
It was further heard that the gang struck the two security guards on the eyes using the firearm’s butt, force-marched them to the backyard before binding them with their own shoelaces.
While Nare kept watch outside, his accomplices broke into the building through a window and stole US$3,608, ZAR1,130, a Huawei Y62 cellphone valued at US$110 and an Exide battery valued at US$80.
Total value of stolen property was US$3,798 and ZAR1,130 and US$110 was recovered.
In a statement following sentencing, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said robbery is a serious offence that endangers lives and disrupts businesses while the use of weapons adds to the gravity of the vice.
