Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
PROMINENT Bindura-based lawyer, Elatone Bonongwe, has been sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison after being convicted of masterminding a violent robbery that left a top Pfura RDC official seriously injured.
Bonongwe was jailed for 20 years after a full trial, with five years suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years.
He was convicted together with five accomplices, Musa Gandi, Agnes Kunaka, Terrence Musingwimi, Justin James and Tafadzwa Obrey Chipashu for orchestrating and executing the violent attack which took place in October 2023 at the Mt Darwin residence of Engineer Emson Chitsungo.
The convict identified the house of the council official and gave leads to the gang of accomplices, who were armed with an AK-47, a bayonet and iron rods when they attacked the council official, ransacking his house, stealing cash and assorted electrical gadgets valued at US$30 000.
During the attack, Engineer Chitsungo sustained a broken arm and swollen soles.
The matter was heard before High Court Judge, Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, who ruled that Bonongwe played a central role in planning and directing the robbery.
In delivering the sentence, the court cited the gravity of the offence, the degree of premeditation involved, and the abuse of professional standing by Bonongwe, stressing that such conduct erodes public confidence in the justice system.
