Online Reporter
A 26-year-old man from Rusape has been caged for eight months for robbing the one person who brought him into the world — his own mother.
Takudzwa Mpindu was convicted at the Rusape Magistrate’s Court for stealing goods worth US$340.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), Mpindu took advantage of his mother’s absence to stage a home raid more befitting a stranger than a son.
“On August 20, 2025, the offender entered the victim’s bedroom using spare keys and stole household property worth US$340,” said the NPAZ.
His 59-year-old mother was in Harare at the time.
Neighbours spotted her son moving her belongings and quickly raised the alarm.
“She received a phone call from a neighbour informing her that the offender was moving her property. A police report was made, leading to the arrest of the offender,” added the prosecuting authority.
Mpindu was sentenced to six months in prison, with two months suspended on condition that he pays restitution by October 31, 2025.
However, Karma caught up with him: He had a four-month suspended sentence from a previous conviction.
All in all, he will be serving eight months behind bars. — Manica Post
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Khami prisoner gets 15 more years for sodomising fellow inmate
An inmate at Khami Prison who was already serving a hefty 71-year sentence shocked the court with a bizarre defence after receiving an additional 15 years for sodomising a fellow inmate.
Mlungisi Maphosa (35) of Silobela village appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Lungile Ncube facing charges of indecent assault.
He pleaded not guilty, claiming the allegations were fabricated by a jealous “husband”.
According to principal prosecutor Milton Moyo, Maphosa repeatedly sodomised fellow inmate Lawrence Dube (23) between November 2024 and April 2025.
Dube eventually reported the abuse to prison officials after months of silence.
In court, Maphosa turned the proceedings into a soap opera, spinning a tale of jealousy and betrayal.
He alleged that a prison officer — whom he referred to as “our husband” — had conspired with Dube to get rid of him.
“The case was made up by my husband and the complainant. They wanted me out of the way,” Maphosa told the stunned courtroom.
He claimed he had confronted the officer about allegedly dating Dube and was told it was none of his business.
According to Maphosa, that confrontation marked the beginning of his downfall.
“I became jealous when the attention and favours I used to get stopped and started going to the fresh one, ama2k,” he said, referring to the complainant.
Magistrate Ncube dismissed the explanation as a desperate fantasy, underscoring that prison is meant for reform.
“The courts send people to prison to change, but when inmates commit more crimes inside, it shows that the purpose of reform has been destroyed. This sentence will serve as a warning to others,” he ruled, before handing down the additional 15-year sentence.
Maphosa will probably die in prison as he will now be serving 86 years.
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Bulawayo man’s ‘lucky find’ lands him in court
A Bulawayo man discovered that “finders keepers” is not a legal defence after pocketing cash he had picked up — only to be caught red-handed by CCTV.
Clark Masuka (34) found himself sweating in the dock after picking up US$200 dropped by another customer inside Masters Hardware on Fife Street and choosing to stay silent.
Masuka appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Maxwell Ncube, who sentenced him to eight months in prison.
However, part of the sentence was suspended and Masuka will instead have to complete 175 hours of community service.
According to Prosecutor Mehluli Ndlovu, the incident occurred on October 10, around 2pm.
Khulekhani Moyo was purchasing a drill bit and cutting disc when his cash slipped from his hand en route to the till.
Enter Masuka — the “Good Samaritan gone rogue” — who spotted the money, glanced around and quietly slipped it into his pocket.
Unfortunately for him, Big Brother was watching.
CCTV cameras captured every sneaky move and once the footage was reviewed, Masuka’s lucky find quickly turned into a legal nightmare.
Police later recovered the full US$200 but the damage had already been done.
In court, Masuka pleaded for leniency, claiming temptation got the better of him.
Magistrate Ncube was unmoved.
“You knew it was not yours,” he said, emphasising that honesty matters, even when no one is watching.
So now, instead of counting dollars, Masuka will be counting hours of community service — a reminder that in Bulawayo, Karma has 20/20 vision. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Orphaned children sexually abused by relatives
A shocking wave of sexual abuse has shattered the lives of three orphaned children in Magaba village, Mberengwa, revealing a horrifying betrayal of trust by those meant to protect them.
The children — aged between four and 14 — were living under the care of extended family members after losing their parents.
Instead of safety, they were allegedly subjected to repeated sexual assaults by multiple relatives and community members.
Without their biological parents, the children were left vulnerable and hopeless.
The abuse came to light when a 10-year-old Grade Three learner was allegedly raped by a relative aged 38.
Sources close to the family claim the man believed the abuse could “cure” a sexually transmitted infection (STI) he had contracted — a belief rooted in dangerously false and criminal misinformation about diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
It is alleged that the perpetrator acted on instructions from a traditional healer.
The crime was uncovered thanks to a vigilant house help who noticed the child had uncharacteristically refused to eat supper.
After persistent questioning, the frightened girl disclosed the horrific ordeal.
She was rushed to hospital, where doctors confirmed she had contracted an STI, triggering immediate alarm.
Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Xolani Dube said the police acted swiftly.
The relative was arrested on October 10 after the matter was reported.
According to the police report, the child was allegedly bribed with snacks and assaulted multiple times.
Disturbingly, sources suggest this individual is not the only predator within the family.
Four other relatives are believed to have habitually molested the children, leaving the siblings — including one in early childhood development (ECD A) class traumatised.
It is suspected that the abuse may have continued for years.
The trauma endured by these orphans serves as a grim reminder of how vulnerable children become when parental protection is lost and the systems meant to safeguard them fail.
Community members have expressed shock over the heinous revelations.
“It is heartbreaking to think that helpless children are being abused by those who are supposed to protect them,” said one local elder, speaking anonymously.
Human rights activists have also condemned the alleged abuses.
Kholakele Mhlanga, an advocacy programmes officer at the Umzingwane AIDS Network, said: “What has happened exposes serious gaps in our child protection system. People who exploit children under any guise must face the full force of the law.”
Sunga Mzeche, director of Hope for a Child in Christ, added:
“The first priority is to ensure these children are safe. We need urgent intervention to protect them from further harm. Their suffering should never be ignored.”
Residents of Magaba village are calling on the authorities to not only prosecute the arrested individual but also thoroughly investigate all other implicated family members.
This case also highlights the urgent need to combat dangerous misinformation about HIV and AIDS.
The belief that a child’s innocence can “cure” a deadly disease is not only false — it is criminally dangerous and must be addressed through widespread community education.
The three children are now in protective custody.
Essential medical care and counselling are being provided to help the children begin the slow and difficult process of healing. — Midlands Bureau
