A WILD AND NOTORIOUS armed robber, who terrorised travellers along the Zaka-Chiredzi highway, has been sentenced to 38 years in prison.

Marshwell Kurauone, 24, of Chikoho Village in Zaka was convicted for a series of robberies at gun point and shooting two of his victims.

The total amount stolen during the robberies was $602. He appeared in court facing four charges of robbery, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and attempted murder for the shootings.

He pleaded guilty to the five charges and rejected only murder.

Masvingo provincial magistrate Noel Mupeiwa convicted him on Tuesday and handed down a 38-year jail sentence with four years suspended on conditions.

The attempted murder charge was reduced after he argued that he had not intended to kill his victim whom he shot on the knee.

The magistrate said Kurauone deserved a stiff sentence because he committed serious offences and aggravated his case by shooting two of his victims, one a 70 year-old man.

Prosecutor Mukai Mutume said on November 11 last year, Kurauone robbed Absolom Murambwi of $150 at gun point at Detoyi bus stop in Chiredzi before shooting him on the right knee.

The court further heard that on November 20 the same year, Kurauone pounced on Simbarashe Musananguro in his shop at Chiredzana Business Centre in Zaka and robbed him of $380 and a mobile phone while pointing his 9mm Vektor pistol at his head.

Kurauone was at it again two days later when he preyed on Patrick Mudzingwa at Jerera Growth Point and took away his $150 and a Nokia 1110 phone.

As if that was not enough, Kurauone proceeded to Mangwezi Business Centre aboard a Delta delivery truck on the rear trailer without the driver’s knowledge.

Upon arrival he disembarked from the trailer but was noticed by patrons who were waiting for the delivery truck. The patrons approached him and he fired four shots on the ground before shooting one Paison Zhou, a 70 year old man on the leg.

Kurauone’s luck ran out after he was arrested by police detectives acting on a tip off at Tshovani bus terminus in Chiredzi on February 11.

He had unlawfully produced his pistol twice in public, resulting in bystanders alerting police who subsequently arrested him.