Bitumen tar thief fined $500

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A BULAWAYO man has been fined $500 for stealing 29 drums of bitumen tar worth $14 500 from Maitengwe area in Bulilima District while two other men who were been arrested with him were cleared of the charges.

Simbarashe Mushava (34) was convicted on his own plea of guilty to theft by Plumtree magistrate, Mr Joshua Mawere. He was ordered to pay a $500 fine or be sentenced to five months in prison in case of default.

In addition, he was sentenced to six months imprisonment which was wholly suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years. Mushava was initially arrested with Mr Everight Ncube (50) and Mr Jabulani Dube (41) but the charges against the two other men were withdrawn after plea as the State failed to find incriminating evidence against them. Mushava also stated that he was alone when he committed the crime.

Prosecuting, Mr Stanley Chinyanganya said Mushava stole the tar which is valued at $14 500 on 19 April around 7pm. He was intercepted by a Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development officer stationed in Bulilima while transporting the tar to Bulawayo. He fled from the scene leaving the vehicle and loot but was later arrested.

“On 19 April around 7am, Mushava approached Mr Vimbai Mbavarira who drives a Benz 10 tonne truck and asked him to transport 29 by 210-litre drums of bitumen tar from Maitengwe area in Bulilima District to Bulawayo and paid $400 for the service.

“Mushava proceeded to Bulilima District with the hired driver to collect the drums in the evening,” he said.

Mr Chinyanganya said around 7 pm, they arrived at Maitengwe Border turn off and Mushava directed the driver to a bushy area where the drums were located. He said while they were loading the drums onto the truck police detectives received a tip off that there were people loading drums at Maitengwe Border turn off and they proceeded to inquire.

“Mushava realised that there were people approaching them with torches and ordered the driver to drive away with the loaded drums in the vehicle.

The police alerted Mr Warren Mavhunga who is a Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development officer. He drove to the main road where he intercepted the truck. The driver stopped the truck and they fled into the darkness and the tar was recovered,” he said.

Mr Chinyanganya said the matter was reported to the police. Mushava was later arrested following police investigations.