adminAdelaide Moyo Chronicle Reporter
A Bulawayo man who unleashed a reign of terror in Victoria Falls, robbing residents of their cellphones, has been arrested.
Kudzai Kamedza, 22, of Pumula East was arrested after three complainants reported him to the police.
Police suspect dozens of residents could have fallen prey to the sweet-talking Bulawayo man.
Kamedza appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani facing three counts of theft.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty and sentenced to nine months in prison.
Commuting the sentence to community service, the magistrate said: “I’ve considered that you’re a first offender, you need to look after your wife and sending you to jail will turn you into a hardcore criminal. I will therefore suspend your sentence on condition you perform community service.”
For the first and second count, Rosemani sentenced Kamedza to a combined six months which she wholly suspended on condition Kamedza performs 210 hours of community service at Pumula South Police station in Bulawayo.
“For the third count I hereby sentence you to three months imprisonment of which two months is suspended for four years on condition you don’t commit a similar offence. A further one month is suspended on condition you perform 35 hours community service at Pumula South Clinic,” said the magistrate.
Prosecuting, Takunda Ndovorwi told the court that on August 23, Kamedza was drinking beer with one of the complainants.
“The accused was with Tedious Mupondi at Busi Bar. He asked for the complainant’s cellphone and claimed he wanted to make a phone call to his relatives,” said the prosecutor.
Upon being given the Nokia Lumnia 720, the court heard, Kamedza distracted Mupondi and went away with the phone.
He allegedly did the same thing to Farai Makuvara after he asked for his cellphone to chat on WhatsApp with his wife.
Said Ndovorwi: “The accused took advantage of the complainant not paying attention to him and went away with the phone without informing him.”
“On August 24 at Soppers complex, Kamedza asked for Kudzai Kowo’s Android cellphone. He said his phone had no battery and he needed to get in touch with his relatives. He took advantage of an unfocused Kowo and went away with his cellphone,” Ndovorwi said.
Upon discovering that the accused had disappeared, the complainant made a report to the police leading to Kamedza’s arrest.
Online Reporter