Blantyre robbery gang jailed for 10 years

Two men involved in a string of terrifying robberies in Blantyre and have been jailed for 10 years with hard labour by the Blantyre Magistrate Court on Friday.

The men – 40-year-old Richard Almando and 30-year-old Harold Mpoya -were brought to justice after police launched  an investigations when the two on 18 November 2011, armed with a pistol, robbed business man Mathias Mbuzi in his shop at Manja township in Blantyre and went away with cash amounting to K120, 000 ($211) and TNM Cell phone and Airtime amounting to K150,000 ($264).

Prosecution told the court that  the two men were responsible for an absolutely terrifying series of robberies and motivated purely by greed for money asthey showed a total disregard for their victims, a number of whom continue to suffer anxiety caused by their experiences during the robbery incidents.

Passing judgement, First Grade Magistrate Kondani Chinangwa said the two were “utterly lawless “.

Chinangwa said he gave a stiff punishment to serve as a reminder to others of how seriously offences of this nature will be treated.

Almando hails from Nakholo village in the area of Traditional Authority Kaduya in Mulanje while Mpoya comes from Magwira village in the area of Traditional Authority Chimaliro in Thyolo.