Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
IN a bizarre and brazen act, a 22-year-old Kamativi man who escaped from police custody returned to the very station he had fled from, only to steal a police radio before going on to break into two teachers’ houses on the same night.
Timothy Dube, of Malube Village under Chief Siabuwa in Binga, has now been sentenced to 18 months in prison after appearing before Hwange provincial magistrate, Rumbidzai Kabasa.
He was convicted on four counts for escaping from lawful custody, theft and two counts of aggravated unlawful entry under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).
The State, led by Mr Wisdom Shava, told the court that Dube was initially arrested on October 7, 2025, at ZRP Kamativi on allegations of indecent assault.
After being handcuffed and booked into the detention register by Constable Manners Edison, he suddenly shoved the officer and bolted into the darkness, still cuffed on one wrist.
Incredibly, a few hours later, Dube sneaked back to the same police station he had escaped from.
Finding the charge office unmanned as officers were out searching for him, he entered and stole a Hytera MD 785G base station radio worth US$1 000.
The theft went unnoticed until the next morning when Dube was arrested walking along the Cross Dete–Binga Highway near Malaliya. The police radio and handcuffs were both recovered in his possession.
Investigations also revealed that during the same night, Dube broke into two teachers’ houses at Kamativi Secondary School, belonging to Christian Gadzira and Trust Gwasunda.
From Gadzira’s house, he stole a Samsung cellphone and solar light valued at US$115, while property worth US$154 was taken from Gwasunda’s house. All stolen items were later recovered.
Magistrate Kabasa condemned Dube’s conduct, describing it as reckless and defiant of lawful authority.
“The accused showed clear disregard for the justice system by escaping and committing further offences while still in flight from police custody,” she said.
Dube was swiftly apprehended within hours of his escape and will now serve 18 months in prison.
The magistrate noted that although all stolen property had been recovered, the seriousness and audacity of the offences warranted a custodial sentence.
What began as a routine arrest for indecent assault turned into a night of lawlessness that saw Dube evade police, rob their own station and loot homes in Kamativi before being captured at dawn.
