Four men, Ashton Siziva (26), Talent Mlaudzi (20), Saul Dadirai (23), and Pheneas Shumba (25), found themselves in the Chiredzi Magistrates’ Court following their involvement in the daring robbery of a Blue Circle bus.
The notorious heist, which took place in the early hours of July 18, 2024, sent shockwaves through the local community, as passengers were violently stripped of their belongings by an armed gang.
According to reports, the group of accused men, working in coordination with an elusive fifth suspect, Elphase Mugudubudze, who remains at large, launched their robbery plan on July 17, 2024.
The plot began when the four boarded the Blue Circle bus at Harare’s Mbudzi Terminus, en route to Beitbridge. Their accomplice, Mugudubudze, had been dropped off earlier at Vilivili bus stop, awaiting the group’s signal.
In the early hours of the next morning, the fourth accused approached the conductor, signaling that he wanted to disembark at Vilivili.
It was here that Mugudubudze, armed with a 9mm C75 pistol, boarded the bus and threatened the driver.
Simultaneously, the other accused produced okapi knives, terrorizing the passengers and demanding they hand over their belongings.
The frightened passengers complied, as the robbers forced the driver to take the bus to a secluded spot where they shut off the engine and the bus lights. The gang then made off with valuables, leaving passengers stranded.
The robbery was reported immediately to local authorities, who launched an investigation leading to the eventual arrest of the four suspects. Mugudubudze, however, is still on the run.
In court, Ashton Siziva, the first accused, pleaded guilty to a staggering 37 counts of robbery.
He was sentenced to 12 years for each of the first six counts, and another 12 years for counts 7 to 37, which will run concurrently. This means Siziva will effectively serve 84 years in prison.
His co-accused are set to appear in court again on September 11, 2024, as the trial continues.
This case highlights the growing threat of armed robberies targeting transport services and the swift action of law enforcement in bringing criminals to justice.
