Serial burglars jailed 36 months

The woman has been jailed for the offence

So, for transforming a US$40 scrap metal run into a 10-year sentence and for proving that you do not need a master plan to become a master criminal, just a pair of wire cutters and absolutely terrible timing, Liberty Chagwiza is our Mampara of the week.

Solomon Bhumu
Post Reporter

THREE serial burglars from Dangamvura have been convicted and sentenced to an effective 36 months in jail each for a string of break-ins targeting mainly maize and mealie meal.

The convicts – Prince Chikwara (22), Tinashe Manjabire (21), and Nicholas Chitiyo (26) – pleaded guilty to unlawful entry under aggravating circumstances that violated Section 131(1) as read with Section 131(2)(e) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).

The trio appeared before magistrate Mrs Annie Ndiraya.

Prosecutor Ms Tinotenda Muzondo said the trio unlawfully entered Zacharia Chikwara’s house by smashing the door open and stole a 12-volt solar battery and 50kg of maize.

In the second incident, the accused stole two buckets of groundnuts, bucket of maize, and flask from another victim.

In the third count, they broke into Shorai Chihota’s house, making off with a KGTEL cellphone, half bucket of mealie meal, and black pot.

The court considered aggravating circumstances and the repeated nature of the offence when handing down the sentence.