Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Online Reporter
A 21-year-old man from Old Lobengula, Mthabisi Sibanda, has been sentenced to perform 105 hours of community service after pleading guilty to charges of unlawful entry.
Sibanda appeared before Western Commonage Magistrate Mr Wochiwunga, who ordered him to complete the community service at Cowdray Park Health Centre within three weeks. He was also instructed to pay US$80 in restitution to the complainant, Mr Atlas Ncube, through the Clerk of Court by 30 August 2025.
The court heard that on 28 June this year, Mr Ncube (55), who resides alone, secured his house before travelling to his rural home in Nkayi. He had asked his son, Alexander, who stays in Parklands, to occasionally check on the property in his absence.
Prosecuting, Ms Audrey Kufandikanwe said Alexander visited the house the following day and discovered the door lock had been broken and several items were missing. He alerted his father, who returned from Nkayi and confirmed the break-in.
Among the stolen items were a Samsung plasma television, a remote control, TV power cable, a three-metre white adapter, an Ecco home theatre system, a Huawei cellphone, two car batteries, a toolbox, and two black jackets. The total value of the stolen goods was pegged at US$760.
On a subsequent Sunday, police officers from Njube Police Station arrived at Ncube’s home in the company of Sibanda. The accused reportedly confessed that he had stood guard at the gate while his two accomplices—who are still at large—broke into the house and took the items.
Ncube accompanied the police to Western Commonage Police Station, where he recovered his Samsung TV. Further recoveries were made at Sibanda’s home, including the home theatre system, adapter, remote control, TV power cable, and toolbox. Sibanda claimed the remaining stolen property was in the possession of his two accomplices.
Recovered property was valued at US$680.
