CRIME AND COURTS
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Courts roundup
Grocery dispute, domestic row end in murder convictions
Five people have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in separate crime and court cases involving murder, armed robbery, illegal gold panning and drug dealing, with courts handing down sentences ranging from four to 35 years.
In the first case, Collen Ishmael (27) was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the High Court sitting at Gweru after being convicted of murdering Ellias Kavhumbura Chimutiso (23) in Redcliff, Kwekwe.
The court heard that on 6 April 2026, Chimutiso hired Ishmael to transport groceries from Mutegude Business Centre to his home using an ox-drawn scotch cart.
The agreed fee was US$5.
However, upon reaching his residence, Chimutiso discovered that some of his groceries were missing.
“He confronted the offender and told him that he would not pay the agreed transportation fee until the missing groceries were returned,” the case summary states.
The disagreement escalated into a physical fight inside Chimutiso’s tuck-shop before spilling outside.
Ishmael then went to his scotch cart, armed himself with an axe and returned to the scene.
“He struck him once on the left shin and once on the right side of the head,” resulting in Chimutiso falling to the ground with severe bleeding.
Ishmael fled, while police attended the scene and took the victim to Kwekwe General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
He was arrested the following day, and police recovered the axe from his bedroom.
A post-mortem established that Chimutiso died from brain injury and severe head trauma sustained during the assault.
Gokwe man jailed 35 years for killing wife
In a separate case, Wiseman Sai (55) was sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment by the Gweru High Court for murdering his wife, Lucia Mpofu (27), following a domestic dispute at Chingarande Village under Chief Chireya in Gokwe North.
The court heard that on 29 January 2026, at about 5am, Sai and Mpofu were sleeping in a single room with their 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old niece when a misunderstanding arose between the couple.
Sai strangled his wife before producing a kitchen knife and stabbing her once in the chest.
“The two juveniles witnessed the incident and fled from the room to alert their grandfather,” the case summary states.
The grandfather rushed to the scene and found Mpofu lying outside the room in a pool of blood, with the knife still lodged in her chest.
Sai had fled the scene and was subsequently arrested after a police report was made.
A post-mortem established that Mpofu died from cardiac tamponade and heart laceration caused by the stab wound.
Gold panner jailed over railway tunnel
Meanwhile, Francis Mambara (42) of Mhizha Village under Chief Masembura in Bindura has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to illegally digging for gold within 45 metres of the Bindura-Trojan railway line.
The Bindura Magistrates’ Court heard that on 15 September 2026, at about 5.30am, National Railways of Zimbabwe employees conducting patrols against illegal gold panning spotted Mambara near a tunnel at the 0.5-kilometre peg.
“He was observed near a tunnel, holding a chisel in his right hand,” the case summary states.
A sack containing gold ore was also found beside him.
The NRZ patrol team ordered Mambara to come out of the tunnel, and he emerged carrying the chisel and sack.
The items were recovered as exhibits before he was escorted to a police station.
Mambara was charged under Section 38(4)(c) of the Railways Act [Chapter 13:09], which prohibits digging, excavating, drilling or tunnelling within 45 metres of a railway track where such conduct poses an actual or potential danger to railway traffic.
He was convicted and sentenced to the statutory minimum of five years’ imprisonment.
Man gets 21 years over US$108,000 robbery
In Harare, Gabriel Mukambachaza (42) was sentenced to a combined 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery, attempted armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.
The Harare Magistrates’ Regional Court heard that on 13 September 2026, Mukambachaza and his accomplices, armed with pistols, iron bars and machetes, targeted Xinda Castings at Borders Estate, Ruwa, and stole US$108,000.
The gang allegedly scaled the company’s premises before taking helmets and work suits from a workshop, which they used to disguise themselves as employees.
They then confronted workers and demanded money from a Chinese employee, identified as Zhang Linge.
The suspects escaped with the cash, although one accomplice was arrested at the scene.
Investigations later led to Mukambachaza’s arrest.
Police recovered US$5,000, a Star pistol, a Tokarev pistol, ammunition, handcuffs, fused cables, detonator emulates and three balaclavas after the accused led detectives to the items.
A total of US$9,900 of the stolen money was recovered during investigations.
Mukambachaza was also convicted over an attempted armed robbery at Kurima Centre in Msasa, where suspects allegedly attempted to force their way into the premises while armed.
The attempt was thwarted after a security response team reacted to alarms triggered when office doors were broken.
The third conviction related to possession of two firearms without valid certificates or lawful authority.
The court imposed a combined effective sentence of 21 years.
Beitbridge woman jailed over 10kg of dagga
In Beitbridge, Chipo Chimba (43) was sentenced to five years in prison for unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs, with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour.
She will therefore serve an effective four-year jail term.
The Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court heard that on 17 September 2026, detectives received information that Chimba was allegedly in possession of dangerous drugs at Dulibadzimu Bus Terminus.
Police searched her luggage and discovered five cobs of dagga concealed in a floral bedspread.
The drugs weighed 10kg and had an estimated street value of US$1,402.
The dagga was seized and Chimba was arrested.
The cases highlight the range of offences before Zimbabwean courts in recent weeks, from violent crimes and armed robberies to illegal activities posing risks to railway infrastructure and drug trafficking.
