adminthe country, a Chitungwiza magistrate has said.
Magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube made the call while passing sentence on a notorious burglar Tinashe Chenjerai of Unity M in Chitungwiza who was convicted on his own plea to six of the eight counts of unlawful entry and theft he was facing.
Chenjerai (27) terrorised a number of residents in Chitungwiza as he broke into their houses stealing clothes, cellsphones and money.
He was slapped with an effective 42-month jail term for house breaking and theft of property worth US$350.
The court had sentenced Chenjerai to 50 months behind bars but set aside 8 months for the next five years on condition that he shall not commit a similar offence.
Chenjerai will go on trial on the remaining two counts.
In passing sentence, Mr Ncube said: “Criminals like Chenjerai are a menace to the society and should be removed from the society because they have no respect for people’s property and privacy.
“Stiff custodial sentence should be imposed on such criminals if the country is to contain cases of this nature that are continuing on the upward trend.”
The court heard that Chenjerai broke into Mr Leonard Maibhegi’s house and stole shoes, clothes and money, while the occupants were asleep.
Again, in November he broke into Mr Gift Mwadzirerusa’s house in the same area and made away with household goods and a wallet.
He also pounced on Mr Zvikomborero Mashaire’s house and took two cellphones but was interrupted when Mr Mashaire woke up and identified him since the light was on. Mr Mashaire filed a police report on December 8 leading to Chenjerai’s arrest.
Mr Luke Mutupe prosecuted.
Online Reporter