adminIn addition each had three months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. All of them pleaded guilty.
The State case as presented by the prosecutor Mr James Nyamapfeni is that on the 1 March this year, the 13-member shoplifting syndicate that consisted of 11 women and two men, hired a blue Toyota Hiace kombi from Bulawayo to Masvingo and conspired to steal groceries from Nyaningwe and Tsungai supermarkets.
The kombi was driven by Mr Michael Sibanda (30) with the conductor being Mr Bhekimpilo Nkala (19). The two however, had their cases withdrawn before plea for lack of evidence.
The court heard that upon arrival Mr Sibanda parked the motor vehicle at Midsec Security offices and together with Mr Nkala they remained in the kombi while the 13 proceeded to Nyaningwe and Tsungai supermarkets and stole items with a total value of $388,10.
The court heard that an alert complainant, Ms Violet Mapenza observed Themba Ndlovu (34) and a 17-year-old girl, who had entered Tsungai Supermarket concealing groceries under their clothes and caused the two shoplifters to be arrested on their way out of the supermarket.
After the two were arrested by the security guards they were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department, Masvingo where they were interviewed and revealed that they were actually a team of shoplifters from Bulawayo.
The court heard that this led to the arrest of the remaining shoplifters who were in a Toyota Hiace kombi registration number ABZ 0344, which was parked at the Midsec Security offices in Masvingo.
Following the arrest, all the stolen goods were recovered from the vehicle.
The group later led the police detectives to the complainants’ supermarkets and indicated where they had stolen the recovered items.
The convicted are Pretty Zikhali (56), Loveness Ndlovu(21), Sibangilizwe Ndlovu (26), Sipho Mahlangu(39), Lucia Guramucheche (44), Sibongile Matutu (27), all from Old Pumula, Sunungurai Pedzisai (30), Pumula South, Nomalanga Sibanda (25), Christabel Mpofu (31), Magwegwe North, Sekai Mavirire (32), Pumula South, Sitshengisiwe Ntebe (42), of
Lobengula West, the juvenile and Sibangilizwe Ndlovu (26), from Pumula East, Bulawayo.
Passing sentence the magistrate said the accused deserved stiffer sentences because they had committed the offence with an actual intent of depriving the complainants of their stock.
“This is a well planned crime. You are an organised syndicate poised to cause mayhem in Masvingo.
“You cannot tell me that you hired a kombi all the way from Bulawayo with the specific intention to shoplift here. You deserve deterrent sentences but what worked in your favour is that you are first time offenders,” said Mr Mapiye.
Online Reporter