NRZ thief found guilty of theft, bribery

Charity Chikara, Sunday News Reporter

A 40-year-old Lobengula man appeared in court on Monday facing a charge of theft and an additional one of attempting to bribe security personnel when he was caught stealing National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) property.

Ozias Moyo appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate, Mr Tavengwa Sangster facing theft and bribery charges after he stole 14 scrapped cylinder heads and 26 locomotive tyres worth US$7 440 and later attempted to cover his crime by offering a US$60 bribe to the security officer who had apprehended him.

According to the prosecutor, Mr Milton Moyo on 14 June, Moyo was apprehended at NRZ work yard at Mateu Road Retreat by Mr Paul Kuronga who is employed at NRZ as a security inspector.

He then offered him US$60 bribe which Kuronga took and later used as evidence leading to the accused’s arrest. 

“On 29 June 2022 around 2.30am, the accused person was arrested while he was loading property belonging to National Railways of Zimbabwe in his truck. 

The accused stole 14 cylinder heads which cost US$147.50 each, amounting to US$2 065, locomotive tyres worth US$205 each, amounting to US$5 330 and a mild steel sheet worth US$45. The accused person begged the complainant to release him and offered him US$60. Complainant then arrested the accused person and confiscated the US$60,” said the prosecutor.

All the stolen property was recovered.

Moyo was found guilty and sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment, 15 of which were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence for the next five years and 21  were suspended on condition he completes 840 hours of community service.