Teen, brother jailed 24 years for gang robbery
By Auther Chimbgwa
A 19-year-old man and his brother were both jailed for 24 years each while their accomplices were each sentenced to 12 years imprisonment following their conviction for a string of armed robberies involving thousands of South African rands in Gwanda.
Police spokesperson for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Detective Inspector Rachael Muteweri confirmed the convictions and subsequent imprisonment of Malvin Maranganya (19), Fornate Maranganya (26) who were both jailed 24 years each.
Their accomplices, Prince Sibanda (23) and Tatenda Ndlovu (23) of Chief Mazetese area in Mberengwa were also handed 12 year jail sentences each.
In a statement, Muteweri said the four were convicted by a Gwanda Regional Court after being apprehended by detectives following a tip-off from the public.
She said: “The convictions stem from a string of robberies committed between 29 March and 1 April 2026.
“On 29 March 2026, posing as genuine customers, the accused persons approached the victim, a food vendor and ordered meals.
“Thereafter, they briefly left the premises and returned moments later, armed with a pistol.
“They threatened the victim and forcibly took cash amounting to ZAR1 000 before disappearing from the scene.”
Pursuant to their robbing spree, Muteweri said, the gang proceeded to a nearby bus stop where they pounced on one of the victims who was waiting for transport.
They robbed her at gunpoint, prosecutors proved in court.
In a separate incident that occurred on 1 April 2026, the gang, masquerading as gold sellers, approached another victim.
They produced a firearm and robbed him of ZAR15 000.
A scuffle ensued resulting in the victim disarming one of the criminals.
But on 15 April 2026, detectives tracked and later arrested Malvin Maranganya, who also implicated his accomplices leading to their arrests in Gwanda.
The gang cleared three armed robbery cases in which a total of ZAR17 760 and US$100 was stolen and no recoveries were made.
The quartet appeared before Magistrate Sithembiso Ndebele at Gwanda Regional Court who, on 30 April 2026, sentenced the Maranganya brothers to 24 years imprisonment each while Prince Sibanda and Tatenda Ndlovu were convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment each.
