A 50-year-old Zaka man accused of gunning down two Criminal Investigations Department (CID) detectives during a police operation has been sentenced to an effective 62 years in prison after admitting to a series of violent armed robberies committed across Masvingo Province.
Daniel Munyanyi, of Ndume Village under Chief Ndanga in Zaka, was sentenced by the Masvingo Magistrates Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to four counts of armed robbery.
He appeared before Regional Magistrate Innocent Bepura, who imposed a 72-year prison term, suspending 10 years, leaving Munyanyi to serve 62 years behind bars.
The State was represented by prosecutor Liberty Hove.
Earlier in the day, Munyanyi appeared before Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzi facing two counts of murder as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The charges relate to the fatal shooting of Bernard Chimbeke and Casper Antonio McKenzie Chitsowe, detectives attached to the CID Homicide section.
The matter was remanded to March 17, 2026.
The two detectives were part of a team investigating armed robbery cases linked to Munyanyi when they were allegedly ambushed during a police operation at his rural homestead in Ndume Village, Zaka, on March 1.
Three other detectives were wounded in the shoot-out, with one later losing a leg after it was amputated due to the severity of the injuries.
During the robbery trial, Munyanyi admitted to carrying out a series of robberies in Zaka and Bikita, often using a firearm to threaten victims before tying them with shoelaces and stealing cash, vehicles and other valuables.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Bepura said the offences were committed in aggravating circumstances, noting that the accused used violence, threats and weapons to terrorise victims.
“The accused person targeted businesspeople and members of the community, tying them up and threatening to kill them while demanding money and valuables,” said Bepura.
The court heard that in June 2025, Munyanyi robbed Chief Nhema, born Rangarirai Bwawanda, of US$10 000, wrist watches and jewellery valued at US$12 560 after tying him with shoelaces.
In December 2025, he tied up a Zaka businessman before stealing US$4 500, groceries, airtime and a Toyota Porte vehicle valued at US$10 900, of which property worth US$5 500 was later recovered.
In another Zaka robbery, he tied businessman Timothy Mandava and threatened to kill him before stealing US$781, a Samsung S22 Ultra cellphone and a Toyota Mark X vehicle valued at US$8 281. Property worth US$7 000 was later recovered.
In Bikita, Munyanyi pointed a pistol at Austin Fungai and robbed him of US$300, airtime worth US$30 and three cellphones valued at US$640, with nothing recovered.
The court also heard that in January this year, Munyanyi stole US$300, five Samsung cellphones and a Honda Fit hybrid vehicle valued at US$9 050 from Caroline Gwanyanya in Zaka, of which property worth US$7 500 was later recovered.
Later the same month in Gutu, he threatened to shoot Emmanuel Mbanda before robbing him of an iPhone 13 Pro Max and Mazda car keys valued at US$1 900.
Prosecutor Hove told the court that Munyanyi carried out the robberies with accomplices who are still at large.
Police investigations into the gang are continuing.
Munyanyi’s arrest followed a dramatic manhunt after the March 1 shooting incident, with members of the public eventually apprehending him in Bikita before handing him over to police.
The killing of the two CID detectives sparked national outrage and renewed calls for tougher action against violent criminals targeting businesspeople and rural communities.