Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
Two men have each been sentenced to 20 years in prison in separate cases involving murder and the theft of motor vehicles, following investigations into a scheme targeting car rental companies.
The offenders allegedly posed as genuine customers to hire vehicles before selling them to unsuspecting buyers.
Criminal Investigations Department spokesperson, Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri, they have since welcomed the conviction and sentencing of the two in separate cases.
She said one of the criminals, Luckson Paribe (37) of Chitungwiza, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment following his arrest for five counts of motor vehicle theft in the Greater Harare area.
“Between October and November 2024, the accused targeted car rental companies by masquerading as a genuine client intending to hire motor vehicles,” she said.
“After taking possession of the vehicles through legitimate rental agreements, he fraudulently disposed of them by selling them to unsuspecting buyers.
“In one of the cases, which occurred on 29 October 2024, the accused approached the victim seeking to hire a Honda Fit.
“After the rental agreement had been concluded, he failed to return the vehicle and became unreachable. The complainant eventually traced the vehicle and discovered that it had already been sold.”
She said using the same modus operandi, Paribe hired another Honda Fit on November 19, 2024, and the offence came to light after the complainant realised that the vehicle’s tracking system had gone offline.
“Investigations led to the recovery of the vehicle on December 17, 2024, from a purchaser to whom the accused had unlawfully sold it,” she said.
“Further investigations established that the accused employed the same fraudulent scheme to steal and dispose of motor vehicles belonging to three other victims.
“Investigations by Detectives from Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Vehicle Theft Squad, Harare, established that the accused had been involved in a series of motor vehicle thefts in which he used the same modus operandi of hiring vehicles from car rental companies before fraudulently selling them to unsuspecting buyers and by the time of his arrest, he was already serving a 15-year prison sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Prison on similar charges in which he stole three motor vehicles using the same modus operandi.”
On July 27, 2026, Paribe appeared at Harare Magistrates Court where he was sentenced.
Meanwhile, Surprise Mhlanga (20) of Kingsdale, Bulawayo, who fatally stabbed a fellow patron during a beer drink following a misunderstanding, has also been convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
The offence occurred on August 10, 2025, at a local hotel in Bulawayo, where the accused stabbed the victim with a knife following an altercation.
The victim was rushed to Mpilo General Hospital, where he later succumbed to the injuries sustained.
On July 28, 2026, the Bulawayo High Court convicted and sentenced Mhlanga to 20 years in prison.
Justice Naison Chivhayo presided over the matter, while Ms Ellen Kanengoni appeared for the State.
Insp Muteweri said: “The convictions underscore the unwavering commitment of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, working in close collaboration with the courts to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.”
