Paul Pindani in CHINHOYI
A MAN, who allegedly uprooted eight palm trees planted along this city’s roadside, has been jailed.
Blessing Bhero, 36, of 1136 Gadzema, Chinhoyi, was convicted of theft after appearing before Chinhoyi magistrate, Virginia Gotora.
He was sentenced to six months in prison.
Three months were suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining three months were suspended on condition Bhero restitutes US$180 to the Municipality of Chinhoyi.
The court heard that Bhero, and his accomplice, only identified as Nyada, who is still at large, allegedly targeted palm trees planted by the municipality as part of its city beautification programme.
Prosecutor Dellanny Shingie Gandawa told the court that last week, at around 8pm, Bhero and Nyada hatched a plan to steal the trees planted along the Harare-Chirundu Road near Greens Building.
Bhero allegedly uprooted eight palm trees between Chinhoyi University of Technology and Orange Groove.
The pair allegedly transported the trees to House Number 11110, Cold Stream, where they intended to sell two of them to Tendai Tore.
Tore allegedly paid US$4 as part payment towards an agreed price of US$15 per tree.
But the deal went sour after Tore became suspicious about the condition of the trees and alerted the municipality.
The court heard that the municipality had already warned residents on social media about the theft of palm trees.
Municipality chief security officer Kelvin Mataramvura, 45, positively identified two of the recovered palm trees as belonging to the municipality.
