HARARE Provincial Magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai has sentenced Simbarashe Emmanuel Martin Rondozai to 42 months in prison for kidnapping and assaulting his former...
HARARE Provincial Magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai has sentenced Simbarashe Emmanuel Martin Rondozai to 42 months in prison for kidnapping and assaulting his former workmate in an attempt to obtain company information.
Rondozai was initially sentenced to 48 months in prison, but the court suspended six months for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period. He will therefore serve an effective 42 months in prison.
The court found that there was overwhelming evidence linking Rondozai to the offence. Magistrate Kuhudzai also ruled that the kidnapping was aggravated by the assault of the complainant, David Matanda, who was deprived of his freedom for about seven hours.
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The State told the court that Rondozai kidnapped Matanda from his home in Chitungwiza in May last year. According to the State, Rondozai wanted to intimidate his former workmate into withholding information relating to alleged fraudulent dealings at their company.
The circumstances surrounding the offence were central to the court’s decision on the sentence. The court found that the evidence presented by the State established a strong connection between Rondozai and the kidnapping and assault.
Rondozai, however, denied the allegations against him. He argued that the State had failed to establish the exact date on which the offence took place, making it impossible for him to raise an alibi in his defence.
Despite his denial, the court found the evidence against him overwhelming and convicted him of the offences. The assault of Matanda and the length of time he was allegedly deprived of his freedom were considered in determining the sentence.
During mitigation, Rondozai asked the court to impose a lighter sentence. He told the court that he is the sole breadwinner for his family and has two children under the age of five.
He also said his wife is unemployed, making him responsible for providing for the family. His personal circumstances were presented to the court as part of his plea for a reduced sentence.
The court ultimately sentenced Rondozai to 48 months in prison, with six months suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence. This left him with an effective prison term of 42 months for the kidnapping and assault.
Rondozai is also facing a separate charge of defrauding Wellcash Debt Collectors of nearly US$11 000 in 2024. That matter is separate from the kidnapping and assault case and remains pending before the courts.
The fraud case is scheduled to resume on October 10. Rondozai will therefore continue to face the separate proceedings relating to the alleged US$11 000 fraud while serving the sentence imposed in the kidnapping and assault case.
The kidnapping case centred on allegations that Rondozai targeted his former workmate in an effort to obtain or suppress information concerning alleged fraudulent dealings at their company. The court found that the evidence presented by the State was sufficient to link him to the offence.
The sentence brings the kidnapping and assault matter to a conclusion, with Rondozai now required to serve the effective 42-month prison term. His separate case involving Wellcash Debt Collectors remains pending.
