Bindura Lawyer Jailed 15 Years for Orchestrating Violent US$30K Robbery

Bindura Lawyer Elatone Bonongwe

HARARE – A High Court has sentenced prominent Bindura lawyer Elatone Bonongwe to an effective 15 years in prison after convicting him of masterminding a violent robbery that left a rural district council engineer seriously injured. Presiding judge Pisirayi Kwenda initially imposed a 20-year sentence on Bonongwe and his co-accused Musa Gandi, Justin Mwale, and Terrence Musingwino before suspending five years on condition of good behaviour.

Two other accomplices, Aubrey Chipashu and Agnes Kunaka, were each sentenced to 18 years in prison, with five years suspended.

According to The Herald, the court heard that Bonongwe devised the robbery plan in October 2025 and recruited his uncle, Gandi, to assemble a team. The group armed themselves with an AK-47 rifle, a bayonet knife, and iron bars before travelling to Mt Darwin in a Toyota Sienta. Bonongwe allegedly identified the target, Engineer Emson Chitsungo’s residence, before separating from the group prior to the attack.

Once at the property, the gang reportedly scaled a precast wall to gain entry and launched a violent assault on Chitsungo. Prosecutors told the court that the victim was struck with iron bars and burned with a hot iron while the attackers demanded cash and valuables. He sustained a fractured forearm and severe swelling in both feet. A neighbour who arrived shortly after the attack described the scene as “horrific.”

“He was in pain and could barely move. We immediately called for help,” the neighbour said.

The gang fled with clothing, electronic gadgets, and US$1,600 in cash, with the total value of stolen property estimated at over US$30,000.

The suspects’ escape was cut short when police intercepted them at a roadblock in Mazowe as they attempted to flee toward Harare. Officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit fired warning shots after the group tried to escape, leading to several arrests at the scene. Others were apprehended later. Police recovered some of the stolen goods, along with the weapons used in the robbery, from the vehicle.

Investigators presented WhatsApp messages linking Bonongwe directly to the crime, including instructions to assemble the robbery team. Authorities confirmed that property worth approximately US$21,000 was recovered during the investigation. Legal analyst Advocate Tapiwa Zhou said the use of digital evidence was key to securing the conviction.

“Electronic communication is increasingly playing a central role in criminal prosecutions, especially in organised crimes where planning is coordinated remotely,” he said.

The conviction marks a dramatic fall for Bonongwe, once regarded as a respected legal practitioner in Bindura, now facing a lengthy prison term for orchestrating a violent crime. The case has raised broader concerns about abuse of professional standing and underscores the judiciary’s firm stance against organised violent offences.

Elatone Bonongwe robbery case