Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve
A HIGH-LEVEL conference in Victoria Falls turned into a crime scene after a young usher was caught on CCTV swiping a pricey camera belonging to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
Panashe Tirivanhu (23) of Hatcliff Extension in Harare, who was working under an ushering company, couldn’t resist temptation and snatched a Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera worth US$1 700 during a break at Elephant Hills Hotel.
The daring theft happened on Tuesday, and he appeared in court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to the charge of theft. Magistrate Linda Dzvene remanded him to Friday for sentencing.
Prosecutor Portia Moyo told the court that on 27 May 2025, the camera’s rightful handler, Rejoice Makoni (35), a communications manager at the Ministry, had briefly left it on a desk in the conference room to go for lunch.
That’s when Tirivanhu struck.
“He went to Makoni’s desk and took the camera, then stashed it in a wardrobe at his lodge,” said Moyo.
But the heist was short-lived.
Thanks to hotel CCTV, police quickly traced the theft and arrested Tirivanhu. The stolen camera was recovered in full.
Tirivanhu is now waiting to hear his fate as justice takes the spotlight.
@nyeve14
derick.khumalo