Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
A MAN, who has been at the heart of a case in which a rented car disappeared from Durban FIVE years ago, has been jailed for five years.
O’Brien Nyambirai, 31, of Acacia Road, Beitbridge, was convicted for the theft of a motor vehicle, the police have confirmed.
Police said the case began in October 2021 when Mpho Billy Nkosi, a South African national, approached a car rental company at King Shaka International Airport in Durban.
He rented a Mercedes Benz C180. Investigators said Nkosi signed a contract in which the vehicle to be returned on November 1, 2021. However, instead of returning the car, Nkosi allegedly contacted the rental company requesting an extension.
CID spokesperson, Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri, said the rental company grew suspicious and monitored the vehicle’s movements using tracking.
“At around 2124 hours on November 2, 2021, the vehicle crossed from South Africa into Zimbabwe through Beitbridge,” Det-Insp Muteweri said.
She said that on November 3, 2021, detectives received information that the car had been spotted at Continental Hotel in Khumalo, Bulawayo.
“Investigations revealed that the motor vehicle was brought by the accused person, who was booked at the hotel,” she said.
“Surveillance led to the arrest of the accused person at the hotel bar.”
Police said the vehicle was searched and a photocopy of the registration book and a temporary import permit in Nyambirai’s name was recovered.
Investigators later established that both documents were fake.
Det-Insp Muteweri said Nyambirai claimed he had paid R35,000 to Nkosi for the vehicle before it was delivered to him.
Nyambirai was taken to Bulawayo Regional Court on November 5, 2021, and remanded in custody to begin trial.
He appeared in court on several occasions until he was remanded out of custody to February 17, 2022.
“On his next appearance, the accused person defaulted and a warrant of arrest was issued against him,” Det-Insp Muteweri said.
She added that Nyambirai was arrested again on March 14, 2025, and appeared before the courts.
After several court appearances, he was finally convicted and sentenced on June 3, 2026, by Magistrate Mark Dzira.
Nyambirai was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, with two years suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
