UZ student gets 4 years for stealing laptops

Yeukai Karengezeka–Court Correspondent

The student who raided University of Zimbabwe offices and hostels stealing laptops has been jailed for an effective four years. 

Tadiwa Delroy Chimutanda (24) will serve seven years if he does not compensate the victims for laptops that were not recovered.

He was convicted of 14 counts of unlawful entry in aggravating circumstances by Magistrate Mrs Ethel Chichera who initially sentenced him to eights years imprisonment. 

Three years were suspended on condition he restitutes unrecovered laptops and computers to the complainants by July 1 and an additional year was suspended on condition of good behaviour upon his release. 

In passing the sentence, Mrs Chichera noted that Chimutanda’s actions affected the progress of other students as he stole laptops that carried their final year research projects. 

It was established during trial that Chimutanda was studying Aeronautical Aviation and was supposed to start his internship with Air Zimbabwe this week.

The complainant in the case was University of Zimbabwe, represented by Mr Simba Mataga (44) who is employed by the institution as an Asset Protection Assistant.

Prosecuting, Mr Takudzwa Mutyavaviri managed to prove that Chimutanda committed the unlawful entries and thefts using the same method between March and June this year.