Soldier gets 8yrs for kidnap

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO soldier, who sneaked into his neighbour’s house in Kensington and kidnapped the family’s six-year-old daughter before leaving behind a bag containing his army pay slip and a dead owl, was yesterday sentenced to 13 years in jail.

Njabulo Tshuma, 30, of Kensington and stationed at Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) 5.1 Infantry Battalion in Kwekwe was convicted of charges of unlawful entry and kidnapping by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Abednico Ndebele.

Tshuma will, however, serve an effective eight years in jail after five years of the sentence were suspended for three years on condition that he does not, within that period, commit a similar crime.

In passing the sentence, Ndebele concluded that mitigatory circumstances outweighed aggravating ones.

“I find it strange that you chose to break into your neighbour’s home during the night and kidnapped their daughter for about three minutes.

“Both charges of unlawful entry and kidnapping are serious crimes and we’ve to send you to jail for what you did although you will eventually lose your job,” said Ndebele.

The magistrate noted that Tshuma was a first offender, a father of two minor children and husband to an expecting wife.

“The court took into consideration that you’re a youthful first offender. Justice should be tempered with mercy and that means you’ll have five years of your 13 years in jail suspended for three years on condition that you don’t commit a crime of that nature within that period,” ruled Ndebele.

Prosecuting, Paida Zengeni said on June 2 shortly after midnight, Tshuma entered Dennis Moyo’s house in Kensington having forced a door which was secured with a chain open.

“After gaining entry into the house he found the girl aged six sleeping on a sofa,” said Zengeni.

The court heard Tshuma lifted the girl and ran away with her. The victim screamed for help and her father stormed out of the house running after Tshuma and caught up with him outside the yard.

Moyo reported the matter to the police and Tshuma was arrested. The court heard that Tshuma left behind his black bag and a purple satchel which contained a Zimbabwe National Army pay slip and a dead owl.