Tuck-shop owner steals to restock

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A Mangwe tuck-shop owner has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after he went to Botswana and stole goods from three shops to restock his.

Bhabhatsi Gumbo, 45, from Madabe, was also fined $100 for using an illegal point to gain entry into and out of Botswana. Gumbo on July 1, used an illegal point in Madabe to gain access into Botswana and proceeded to Siviya Village where he stole groceries valued at P2,337 from three different shops in the middle of the night. On the same night, he used the same illegal point to return home with the goods that he had stolen.

Gumbo was convicted of theft and illegal migration by Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa.

He was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment of which six were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit an offence of the same nature within the period. He was also ordered to pay a $100 fine or 30 days imprisonment in case of default for getting into and out of Botswana illegally.

He said he stole the grocery items as he had run out of stock at his tuck-shop that he operates in his village.

Gumbo said he did not have money to buy new items and decided to steal in order to revive his business.

Prosecuting, Elisha Mazorodze said Gumbo illegally entered the neighbouring country on July 1, around 4AM. “While in Botswana, Gumbo went to a store which is owned by Galipi Makhanda in Siviya Village. The shop had closed for the day. He gained access to the closed shop and stole goods valued at P1,337 and left unnoticed.

“Gumbo proceeded to a shop belonging to Kesebonye Masuku and stole goods valued at P600 and then stole goods valued at P400 from Cynthia Gule’s shop and left unnoticed,” said Mazorodze.

He said Gumbo then returned to the country with the stolen goods using an illegal crossing point. Mazorodze said the shop owners realised that their property had been stolen on the following morning and reported the matter to the police.

He said police in Botswana alerted their local counterparts, who upon investigating, learnt that Gumbo had some goods in his shop which were suspected to be stolen. He said the stolen goods comprised tinned foods, bath soap, rice, cooking oil, toothpaste, sugar, toiletries and other food items.