Zim Metro

Residents happy about 629 year Terror gang sentence.

Cowdray Park and Luveve suburb residents  gave praise to the police for the job well done in the apprehending of the gang that had wrecked havoc in the suburb.

 The nine men gang was jailed  for a combined 629 years for many counts of robbery and rape.

The criminals who gang raped and robbed residents began serving their jail terms yesterday for lengthy terms with the kingpin being slapped with 166 years in prison.

"We're happy about the arrests. The collective 629 year sentence guarantees that they won't return to haunt society. I think it's deterrent enough to would be offenders. However, I wish that they could've been castrated to teach a lesson to like minded people," said Tholakele Dube a resident.

Arnold Gwala said the robbers were giving a bad name to unemployed youths as they were being suspected of committing the crimes.

"It's tough being unemployed when there are so many crimes being committed in the suburb. We're easily picked or assumed to have committed the crimes. But were relieved that none of the criminals is from this suburb," said Gwala.

Thembelani Ndlovu said most residents were yesterday engaged in debates over the sentences. "I think the magistrates were just polite not to say life in prison for them. But anyway its life in prison for them no-one lives for 166 years," said Ndlovu.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango expressed gratitude to the city's residents for being patient while they were conducting investigations.

She hailed the judiciary for the punitive sentences imposed on the eight criminals saying a combined 629 years in prison will save as a warning to would be offenders that crime does not pay.

Insp Simango said police were tracking down the remaining suspects and they would continue working hard to rid Bulawayo of criminals. She urged members of the public to continue assisting the police to fight crime by providing information.

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