Zimbabwe soldier sentenced after robbing Catholic priest

A member of Zimbabwe’s Commando Regiment has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing a Roman Catholic priest during a night-time raid.

Learnmore Gwenyaya, 31, who serves with the 1 Commando Regiment at Block 5 in Harare, appeared before Rusape Magistrate Tendai Mahwe on Monday and was convicted on a robbery charge. The court heard that on the night of December 7, 2025, Father Kanisious Mashati retired to bed after locking the main entrance and his bedroom door, while domestic worker Margret Mafeni secured all the windows.

At about 1:30 a.m. on December 8, Gwenyaya and two accomplices, who remain at large, allegedly arrived at the residence armed with an iron bar, a shovel and an okapi knife. The trio, who wore balaclavas to conceal their identities, reportedly gained access to the house using duplicate keys before forcing their way into the priest’s bedroom.

Prosecutors said Father Mashati attempted to resist the attackers but was assaulted with an iron bar and a shovel. During the struggle, he threw a bottle of wine at the intruders, injuring Gwenyaya. However, the priest eventually surrendered after being threatened with an okapi knife. The assailants searched the room and stole an Itel A70 mobile phone before fleeing the scene.

Police officers on patrol later intercepted the suspects near Halfway House along the Harare–Mutare Road at about 3:30 a.m. While two suspects escaped, Gwenyaya was arrested. A subsequent search led to the recovery of a live cartridge, and investigations established that he did not possess a valid firearm certificate.

For the robbery offence, Magistrate Mahwe sentenced Gwenyaya to five years imprisonment, with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving him to serve an effective four-year jail term. On a separate charge relating to unlawful possession of ammunition, the court imposed a US$300 fine or, in default of payment, four months imprisonment. The ammunition was also forfeited to the State.