High schools pupils sentenced to community service for firearm theft

Midlands Correspondent
TWO High School girls were on Tuesday sentenced to perform 315 hours of community service each by a Gweru magistrate when they were convicted of stealing and attempting to sell a fire arm belonging to one of the juveniles’ mother.The two girls, both aged 17 and are close friends, were convicted on their own plea to contravening a Section of the Fire Arms Act by Ms Gertrude Mayenyoso.

They were each sentenced to 12 months in prison but three were suspended on condition of good behaviour. The other nine months were suspended on condition that they each complete 315 hours of community service at the District Administrator’s Office and St Paul’s Primary School in Mkoba Village Six.

For the State, Ms Helen Khosa told the court that on 5 February this year one of the girls who resides in Athlone suburb visited her friend in Mkoba Village One and hatched a plan to steal a revolver, which belonged to the Athlone girl’s mother.

The court was told that the two then went to Athlone suburb and stole the gun before they returned to Mkoba Village One where they intended to sell it.

The court was also told that the Athlone suburb girl wanted to use the money to settle school fees arrears after she squandered the money she had been given by her parents.

After failing to get a buyer, the two then threw the revolver which was loaded with six rounds of ammunition into a garden at the Mkoba girl’s house.

The Athlone girl’s mother noticed that her revolver was missing in her bedroom and made a report to the police.
Police investigations led to the arrest of the two girls and the subsequent recovery of the gun.