adminTendai Gukutikwa
THE spirit of Ananias and Saphirra recently manifested itself in a Hobhouse couple which allegedly stole church property worth $690.Appearing before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura, last week, Liberty Gumende (26) and his wife, Tafadzwa Mukonyo (21), denied the unlawful entry and theft charges they were facing.
Their trial was set for March 5 and both were ordered to pay $50 as bail.
The court heard that on February 14, the couple unlawfully entered the house of Apostolic Faith Mission pastor, Malcolm Hove, at No. 25, Carrington, Darlington, Mutare.
“The two who are also members of AFM Church allegedly stole property worth $690 and disappeared. These include 40 white T-shirts written Bensheba Elijah Olive Tree Ministries with the church’s logo, 10 caps with the same church’s logo, holy communion cups, a DVD player and five textbooks that belonged to the church,” said Mr Donald Mudadirwa, who was prosecuting.
The couple was arrested after police received a tip-off that they were selling the goods that had been stolen in Darlington.
Only three T-shirts were recovered.
Asked why they were denying the charges yet they were found in possession of some of the stolen items, Mukonyo said she had bought the T-shirts from a passerby in Hobhouse.
“We bought the T-shirts from a vendor who was passing by our house. I even sold some to my friends. We did not steal them. I do not even know where Darlington is,” she argued.
Gumende also told the court that they had fallen victim to the real thief who had sold them the stolen goods.
“We do not force people to plead guilty. The truth shall come out because a trial will be conducted, witnesses brought in and evidence will be presented before the court. If, however, you are found guilty after having wasted the court’s time, come prepared for a stiffer penalty,” Mrs Chiundura warned the couple.
Online Reporter