Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara and Dalyn Chigwizura
AN unlicensed Bulawayo street car washer who stole a vehicle worth US$3 500 from a city centre parking bay and went on a joyride has been sentenced to one year in prison.
Gift Phiri (22) of Njube suburb was convicted of theft of a motor vehicle in contravention of Section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] and driving without a valid driver’s licence in violation of Section 6(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11].
He appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga, who sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspending three months for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period.
This leaves him with an effective nine months in jail.
In passing sentence, Mr Wochiunga said a custodial sentence was appropriate, noting that the accused admitted to drug abuse and required rehabilitation.
In mitigation, Phiri told the court that he survived by washing cars in the streets and used part of his earnings to buy drugs.
Prosecuting, Mr Owen Mugari said the offence occurred on January 9 at around 3PM.
The complainant, Mr Mike Phiri, had parked his silver Honda Fit at a parking bay at the corner of George Silundika Street and 12th Avenue in Bulawayo’s central business district.
“The complainant did not lock the vehicle and left the front passenger window open while he went into a nearby supermarket to buy food,” said Mr Mugari.
The court heard that while inside the shop, the accused followed the complainant and offered to clean the car for a fee, but the offer was declined.
“The accused then walked out of the shop, went to the parking bay, opened the doors, got into the vehicle and used an unidentified object to start the engine before driving off,” said the prosecutor.
Upon returning from the supermarket, the complainant discovered that his car was missing.
“After enquiring from people nearby, he was informed that the accused person had driven away with the vehicle,” said Mr Mugari.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Phiri’s arrest the following day after he was found driving the stolen vehicle. The car was subsequently recovered.
