Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
The Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court has jailed Godfrey Musa Ndlovu (23) for an effective one year for the theft of a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) vehicle at Chemagamba Police Camp in Chinhoyi.
Ndlovu was slapped with total of 30 months’ imprisonment, with 18 months suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving him to serve 12 months effective.
According to the State, on 7 December 2025, at approximately 05:00 hours, a ZRP officer was preparing to travel to Mutoko in a silver Kia Rio police vehicle when Ndlovu, a relative of a neighbour, requested transport into Chinhoyi town.
The officer permitted him to load his goods into the vehicle.
Before departing, the officer briefly returned to his residence to collect a mobile phone, leaving the vehicle keys inside his jacket on the seat.
Ndlovu retrieved the keys and drove off.
Acting on a tip-off, police later apprehended Ndlovu near Thrills Service Station while he was travelling in an unregistered taxi (mushikashika). He subsequently led officers to the recovery of the stolen vehicle in Ruvimbo Phase 2, Chinhoyi.
The vehicle, valued at US$6,000, was recovered with the registration plates removed, the third plate altered, the police radio disconnected, and the communication aerial damaged.
The missing registration plates, valued at US$650, were not recovered.
The court sentenced Ndlovu to 24 months’ imprisonment, of which three months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. One month was suspended on the condition that the offender restitutes US$14, leaving an effective jail term of 20 months.
In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority said, “State property is protected under law. Abuse of trust and unlawful conduct will attract severe penalties.”
