Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
A 32-YEAR-OLD man from Dangamvura, Mutare, has been sentenced to an effective seven years in prison for stealing motor vehicles in Mozambique and smuggling them into Zimbabwe for resale.
Dickson Nyamura was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of three counts of theft.
Mutare Provincial Magistrate Poterai Gwezhira suspended three years on condition of good behaviour, meaning Nyamura will serve seven years behind bars.
Nyamura was convicted following a full trial after the court dismissed his defence that the vehicles had been handed to him by an uncle based in Mozambique for resale in Zimbabwe.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Gwezhira said cross-border motor vehicle theft is a serious crime that undermines relations between neighbouring countries and causes financial prejudice to innocent vehicle owners.
“The accused person acted with planning and dishonesty, targeting vehicles in a neighbouring country before illegally bringing them into Zimbabwe for personal gain,” said Magistrate Gwezhira. “Such offences are serious and require custodial sentences to deter like-minded offenders.”
The State, represented by prosecutor Ms Joice Tinarwo, proved that Nyamura stole three vehicles in separate incidents in Manica Province, Mozambique, before bringing them into Zimbabwe through the illegal Burma Valley crossing point.
On November 29, 2025, Nyamura stole a red Honda Fit belonging to Loide Bernardo Tomas at De Setembro, Manica. He used duplicate keys to unlock and start the vehicle, then drove it into Zimbabwe through an undesignated crossing point. The theft was reported to Mozambican authorities, who alerted detectives in Mutare. The vehicle, valued at US$2 000, was recovered and positively identified by Tomas.
On December 16, 2025, Nyamura stole a Toyota Hiace belonging to Saramao Guidione Patricio Uache. The vehicle had been parked beside the road with the keys left in the ignition. Nyamura started it and drove into Zimbabwe via the same illegal route. Police traced the vehicle to house number 5271 in Area 3, Dangamvura. The Toyota Hiace was valued at US$4 000.
On November 30, 2025, Nyamura stole another Honda Fit belonging to Margarida Paulo Sarapia of 04 Congresso, Manica. Again using duplicate keys, he stole the parked vehicle and crossed into Zimbabwe through Burma Valley. He later sold the car to a local resident, Joseph Takunda Muzimba of Area 3, Dangamvura. Police recovered the vehicle during investigations.
