Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A 36-YEAR-OLD man from Southlea Park, Harare, will spend six years in jail after he was found guilty of stealing a Honda Fit belonging to a Premier Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) employee.
Harare magistrate Mrs Letween Rwodzi initially sentenced Tanaka Makwanya to nine years in jail before suspending three years on condition of good behaviour.
The State, led by Cecilia Mashingaidze, proved that on July 10 2025, the complainant parked her motor vehicle, a Honda Fit registration number AFE8274, chassis number GE61107802 and engine number L13A4120122 at the corner of Nelson Mandela and Innez Terrace, Harare.
Makwanya suddenly entered her car through the front passenger door, and she thought he was lost.
She told him that she was not carrying passengers and he did not answer her.
Makwanya then pulled out a steel iron bar from his jacket pocket and a claw hammer and stepped forward towards the complainant who was seated on the driver’s seat.
The complainant immediately got out of the motor vehicle. The court heard that Makwanya then started the engine and when he was about drive the motor vehicle away, the complainant started screaming for help and that’s when on-lookers came to her rescue and one of them blocked the accused person from driving off.
When he saw that there was nowhere to go, he ran away.
The crowd that had gathered then pursued him and managed to apprehend and escorted him to ZRP Harare Central, where the complainant filed a report.
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