Man sentenced to five months for stealing gas cylinder and tools from mum

Where parties state how their agreement may be cancelled, the party which seeks to cancel it must cancel it in terms of the dictates of that agreement

Hillary Makoni stood before the magistrate, not with a broken heart, but with a broken financial agreement. She demanded US$450 from her ex-boyfriend, Mention Manyonga, money she said he borrowed during the course of their relationship.

Dalyn Chigwizura

A 41-year-old man from Bulawayo has been sentenced to an effective five months in prison after stealing a 5kg gas cylinder and garden tools from his mother.

Goodluck Muchichwa of Emakhandeni appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube, who convicted him of theft.

He was initially sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. However, four months were suspended — three for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence during that period, and one month on condition he restitutes his mother, the complainant, US$52. This leaves him with five months to serve.

Prosecutor Ms Cathrine Kuzu told the court that the offence occurred on 17 October.

“On that day, the accused person went to Njube suburb and later returned home in Emakhandeni around 5PM. He found his mother, Susan Muchichwa (65), absent,” she said.

Muchichwa took advantage of her absence and stole a 5kg gas cylinder, a garden pick, a shovel, and a metal dish before leaving with the items.

When the complainant returned, she discovered the property missing and reported the matter to the police. Investigations led to the arrest of the accused.
None of the stolen items were recovered.