adminTanaka Mrewa Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man who broke into his neighbour’s house, stripped her, stole property worth about $3 600 and defecated on the doorstep as he left, has been sentenced to five years in jail.
Western Commonage Magistrate Miss Tancy Dube convicted Farai Mzila (30) of theft.
In his initial court appearance, Mzila had pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and theft.
On Friday he changed his plea to not guilty, claiming he bought the complainant’s property from a vendor.
Miss Dube, on the strength of overwhelming evidence, sentenced Mzila to five years and conditionally suspended one.
In passing judgment, Miss Dube said Mzila contradicted himself a lot.
“You said you were in Botswana but your passport was stamped twice on the same day showing that you returned to Zimbabwe. You have no proof to show that you were at the border as you claim,” said Miss Dube.
“The complainant clearly stated that although she could not see your face because of the mask you were wearing, she conversed with you for more than 45 minutes which was time enough for her to pick your crooked Ndebele accent.”
Miss Dube said the investigating officer who had testified in court stated that Mzila had admitted stealing the property when it was recovered at his house at the time of his arrest.
She said it was the reason why Mzila had failed to point out who had sold him the television from Makokoba Township as he claimed and neither could he produce any receipts as proof of payment for it.
Mzila alleged that he had not stolen the property that was recovered at his house in Magwegwe North suburb, claiming that he was in Botswana on the day the offence was committed.
“I had travelled to Botswana and came home very late. That television set I bought it for $495 in Makokoba from a friend of mine. The two cell phones are mine, I’m self- employed as a cell phone dealer,” said Mzila.
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