Mbundane duo jailed 12 months each for burglary, theft of groceries worth US$500+

The attackers fled to Mozambique, where they sold his cellphone

TWO burglars who broke into a tuckshop in Bulawayo and stole groceries worth more than US$500 have each been sentenced to an effective 12 months in prison.

Vusa Nkiwane (23) and Brighton Dube (19) both of Mbundane suburb in Bulawayo, were convicted on their own pleas of guilty to unlawful entry and theft by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube.

The pair was initially sentenced to 18 months in prison each. However, three months were suspended for five years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence during that period.

Another three months were suspended on condition that they each restitute the complainant, Mr Tapiwanashe Chipayi, US$190,90. This left the two with an effective 12-month custodial sentence.

Prosecuting, Mr Tafara Dzimbanhete told the court that sometime in February, the two men went to Mbundane Business Centre, where they broke into Mr Chipayi’s tuckshop and stole groceries valued at US$531,80.

The court heard that on February 27 at around 2.25AM, the pair was arrested following a tip-off which led to the recovery of some of the stolen groceries worth US$150.

Groceries valued at US$381,80 were not recovered.