A 40-year-old man and his 17-year-old son have been sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison for the cold-blooded murder of an 89-year-old grandfather, whom they viciously attacked and robbed of a torch and knife at a rural bus stop.
Appearing before High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, Trenias Shumba and his son Tinevimbo, of Madhuveko Village, Chief Mazvihwa, were convicted of murdering Siriyoti Taruvinga of Mhepo Village, Chief Mataruse, Mberengwa. Despite pleading not guilty, they were handed 25 and 20-year sentences, respectively.
Prosecutor Mr. Thompson Hove told the court that on June 7, 2023, at 4 AM, the two, along with Tofara Zhou (who remains at large), ambushed Mr. Taruvinga and his nephew, Nicholas Machando, at Chinda Village bus stop. Zhou snatched the elderly man’s walking stick and mercilessly beat him, forcing Machando to flee for his life. The gang then kicked and stomped on Mr. Taruvinga, looted his knife and torch, and vanished into the night.
Despite receiving treatment at Murongwe Clinic and Matibi Hospital, Mr. Taruvinga never fully recovered. On June 22, he collapsed at home and was rushed to the hospital again, but by June 28, he was dead. A post-mortem at United Bulawayo Hospitals confirmed that the severe brain injuries sustained during the attack were the cause of death.
Testimonies painted a harrowing picture of the attack. Mr. Machando, the only eyewitness, recounted his frantic escape, leaving his uncle behind in the hands of the assailants. Ms. Luwini Shoko, the deceased’s widow, revealed how the same attackers had robbed and slapped her, demanding money before she fled into the darkness.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Mutevedzi condemned the senseless brutality of the crime, stating that the father and son deserved no leniency. He sentenced Shumba to 25 years and Tinevimbo to 20 years in prison, ensuring that justice was served for the elderly victim.
