A 43-year-old Bulawayo man, Trust Nkomo, has been convicted of armed robbery following a terrifying home invasion in which he and his accomplices pointed a gun at a three-month-old baby and threatened a four-year-old child with an axe.
Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Themba Chimiso delivered the conviction on Thursday, ruling that the State had presented overwhelming evidence linking Nkomo to the crime, despite his pleas of innocence.
The court heard harrowing testimony from Kimberly Shambare, who was in the house when the robbers struck. She told the court that she had gone to bed around 9 PM with her children after locking all doors and windows. She was later awakened by a man wielding an axe who ordered her not to scream before demanding cash, valuables, and gold.
“He grabbed my four-year-old child by the legs and placed the axe on his neck, threatening to kill him if I did not give them money,” Shambare testified. She said Nkomo then hit her on the knee with the back of the axe as the gang ordered her off the bed and ransacked the bedroom.
After lifting the mattress, the robbers found her husband’s pistol. Nkomo allegedly took the gun and pointed it at her three-month-old child while continuing to demand cash. Shambare told the court she only had US$15 in her bag, which they snatched, along with cellphones. The gang then proceeded to the sitting room where their housemaid was sleeping, demanding money and taking her phone. They also stole a television set, a gas cylinder, USB drives, and other household items.
In total, the robbers stole cash and property worth US$2,683, as well as a firearm belonging to the owner of the house.
Evidence Overwhelming, Court Rules
Nkomo pleaded not guilty, denying any involvement and claiming he was not at the scene. However, Magistrate Chimiso said the evidence against him was overwhelming. Police investigations, including cellphone triangulation, placed Nkomo at the crime scene around 3 AM on the day of the robbery.
Two State witnesses positively identified him during an identification parade. One witness told the court that she recognized him by a distinctive mark on his face that resembled a gun. The court observed the mark.
Furthermore, a firearm magazine loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, which had been stolen from the complainant’s home, was recovered from Nkomo. The owner, Godknows Muleya, identified the magazine using three dots he had engraved on its plastic base plate.
Nkomo challenged the identification parade, arguing that he had been placed among shorter individuals, putting him at a disadvantage. However, State representative Samuel Mpofu maintained that the investigations were thorough and that stolen property had been recovered from the accused.
The matter was postponed to September 21 for sentencing. Nkomo’s accomplices remain at large, and police are continuing their search.
The conviction brings a measure of justice to the victims, who endured a horrific ordeal in their own home. The case highlights the bravery of witnesses who came forward to identify the perpetrator.
