Online Reporter
Muchaneta Chimuka-Zimpapers Reporter
A CHITUNGWIZA man has been convicted and fined for failing to secure his loaded firearm, which he left behind in a room at a lodge.
Simbarashe Ruwocha (38), of Unit O, Seke, appeared before Chitungwiza Magistrate Batista Madzingira and pleaded guilty to contravening Section 28 (2) of the Firearms Act (Chapter 10:09), which pertains to the failure to safeguard a firearm and ammunition.
The court heard that on August 31, Ruwocha, who is self-employed, checked out of Mukanya Lodge in Makoni, Seke, and left his CZ V20 pistol — serial number 324097 — on the floor of the room.
The weapon was loaded with a magazine containing five rounds of ammunition and was left unsecured.
According to Public Prosecutor Shamiso Charmaine Mwapangira, the gun was discovered on the morning of September 1.
At around 0700 hours, after Ruwocha had left, lodge staff member Yeukai Mudimu entered the room to clean.
Mudimu found the firearm and immediately alerted the police, who swiftly arrived at the scene to recover the weapon.
Subsequent police investigations traced the registered owner of the pistol to Ruwocha, leading to his arrest.
In sentencing, magistrate Madzingira ordered Ruwocha to pay a fine of US$200 or its equivalent in ZiG. Failure to pay the fine will result in a five-month prison sentence.
