Soldiers jailed for fuel theft

Zimbabwe workers to steal fuel worth US$1 000 from the firm’s depot in Mabvuku.
Eight of them were on Tuesday jailed 18 months each. The other two are still on the run. Mazvani Action (25), Mabasa Kuhudzai (28) and Chikiwa Enias (21) were based at 2.2 Infantry Battalion and attached to Noczim Mabvuku depot.
Safeguard guards Mwita Trymore (35) and Butu Killain (46) were providing security at the premises together with Constable Siziba Robert.
Two Noczim workers, acting assistant manager Peter Nyamapanda (42) and plant operation manager Trynos Sithole (34) were the brains behind the crime. They had all denied the theft charges when their trial opened before Harare regional magistrate Mr Simon Kachambwa. They were found guilty because of overwhelming evidence against them.
Mr Kachambwa sentenced the group to three years in prison each before suspending half of the sentence on condition that they do not commit a similar offence involving dishonesty in the next five years. In passing sentence, Mr Kachambwa noted that although they were all first offenders their moral blame worthiness was very high considering they were supposed to provide security at the fuel depot. On February 28 in 2009 all the eight were on night duty when Nyamapanda came on two occasions to check whether all the plant operators had reported for duty.
He left the depot at around 22.40 hours after making sure that everything was well. On March 1 at around 02.00 hours a Toyota Hiace registration number ABG 1120 came to the premises laden with empty plastic containers. Mwita and Mazvani, who were manning the main gate, let the vehicle in. Tendai Karuweni in the company Shupikai who are still at large was driving the Toyota Hiace.
After a few minutes another Toyota Hiace bearing registration number ABG 3604 also drove into the premises also laden with plastic containers.
The vehicle was driven by Zivanai Misireva, a Noczim plant operator. He was in the company of another man and both are still at large. The first vehicle came out loaded with 1 080 litres of petrol.
At this time an undercover policeman Sergeant Mathias Kumurayi took the main entrance keys from Mwita and disarmed Zvani before intercepting the vehicle. He ordered the driver to park his car and surrender the keys before arresting the occupants.
Sgt Kumurayi also arrested occupants of the other Toyota Hiace.
The fuel stolen, which was valued at US$1 000, was recovered.