Highway robbers jailed 144 years for ambush on motorists

By Staff Reporter
Two notorious armed robbers have been jailed for 144 years after they were found guilty of committing three counts of the serious crime between 13 December 2024 and 22 February this year in Mwenezi, Masvingo.
Gift Maphosa (36) and Mpokiseng Dube (27) were handed the tough sentence by a Chiredzi magistrate following trial.
According to police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, on 22 February 2025, “detectives acted on received information that Gift Maphosa was one of the suspects committing some robberies along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road, where they would target unsuspecting travellers during night-time”.

“The duo would set a trap for motorists by blocking the road with stones, and when motorists reduced speed or tried to remove the stones, the two would emerge from the darkness with pistols and threaten to shoot victims while demanding cash and valuables.
“In one of the cases, the duo shot and injured two victims after they had tried to resist.”
Nyathi said the detectives apprehended Gift Maphosa, who then implicated Mpokiseng Dube, who was later arrested in Beitbridge.
“The two have since appeared before the Chiredzi Regional Magistrate Court, where they were both convicted and sentenced to 144 years imprisonment,” Nyathi said.