adminVictoria Falls Reporter
AN “enterprising” thief broke into a neighbour’s home, stole an assortment of household property and loaded them onto a stolen ox-drawn cart which he pulled to his homestead in the neighbouring village.Cheeky Zibusiso Maseko, 20, was later arrested after he used some of the stolen property to settle a debt he owed a fellow villager.
He told the court that somebody had promised to give him a cellphone handset if he could steal an axle for a cart. The incident occurred in Chief Mvuthu’s area outside Victoria Falls Town on April 24 when the complainant Nkosilathi Sibanda had secured his property as he left for Chinotimba where he stays.
Prosecutors say Maseko entered Sibanda’s homestead at around 6PM and forced open a locked bedroom door to gain entry.
He stole a double bed, two axes, and two blankets, one roll of barbed wire, four harnesses, four chains, two pumps, two tyres and kitchen utensils.
Maseko also stole an ox-drawn cart on which he loaded the loot before pulling it across the village to his homestead.
Property worth $750 was recovered at his homestead. Maseko pleaded guilty to theft and unlawful entry when he appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Sharon Rosemani yesterday. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, four of which were suspended for four years on condition of good behaviour. The remaining 10 months were suspended on condition he completes 350 hours of community service at Ndlovu Secondary School.
David Tivakudze prosecuted.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter