Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A Goromonzi man who appeared in court for stealing a Toyota Axio worth US$12 000 after its owner left it unattended with keys in the ignition in Harare’s central business district has been jailed for an effective eight months.
Shivan Junior Chamangira pleaded guilty when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Michael Mafukidze.
He was initially sentenced to 22 months in jail. However, four months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving him to serve an effective 18 months.
The complainant, Craig Funzani, is a self-employed artisanal miner.
The State proved that on September 17 at around noon, Funzani parked his silver Toyota Axio opposite Petrol Trade at the intersection of Jason Moyo Avenue and Leopold Takawira Street before proceeding to Cleveland House.
He left his two sisters, Anodiwanashe Tinodakufa and Agnes Saidi, in the vehicle, with the keys in the ignition.
The court heard that after some time, Funzani returned but discovered that both the vehicle and his sisters were no longer at the spot where he had parked.
He later spotted his sisters walking along Leopold Takawira Street and questioned them about the vehicle’s whereabouts. The two told him they had left the vehicle unattended while looking for him after he took longer than expected to return.
Funzani then realised the vehicle had been stolen and reported the matter at ZRP Harare Central.
Later that day, the police spotted Chamangira driving recklessly in Mwanza, Goromonzi, and they stopped him.
During questioning, Chamangira admitted he had stolen the vehicle in Harare.
He was subsequently arrested and the vehicle was recovered.
