Zambian housebreaker jailed

Leonard Ncube
AN Zambian housebreaker has been arrested in the border town of Victoria Falls.

Gift Mwale (32) of B47 Dambwa Site, Livingstone in Zambia pleaded not guilty to a combined 17 counts of unlawful entry and theft which he committed in Mkhosana and Chinotimba suburbs between December last year and last month.

But Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Rangarirai Gakanje convicted him because of overwhelming evidence and sentenced him to 42 months.

He will, however, serve an effective three years after six months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

In sentencing Mwale, the magistrate said she considered that he had previous convictions of a similar nature.

Prosecuting, Listen Nare said Mwale committed the crimes in the company of Simbarashe Sibanda and Patrick Ndlovu, who are still at large.

The three would cross the border into Victoria Falls where they would break into houses at night and steal property a�� mostly plasma TVs, laptops and cash.

a�?On the first count, the accused proceeded to the complainant Sikhathele Dumania��s place of residence in Chinotimba on December 4, 2015 and stole a mountain bike worth $140,a�? said the prosecutor.

In January this year, Mwale, in the company of Simbarashe Sibanda, stole a generator worth $90 belonging to Oliver Mussa of Chinotimba.

a�?On January 12, 2016 Mwale proceeded to Anna Ngwidzaa��s place of residence in Chinotimba in the company of Patrick Ndlovu, who is still at large and stole a 32-inch Samsung TV set and a bag both worth $1 000,a�? said Mr Nare.

On April 14, Mwale and Sibanda broke into Peter Kokeraia��s house and stole a 32-inch Sinotech TV, laptop and Samsung cellphone handset with a combined value of $995.

In May, Mwale and Sibanda broke into two houses and stole a laptop, satchel and a Nokia handset worth $450 belonging to Mr Trymore Moyo and a mountain bike valued at $150 belonging to Mr Edmore Sibanda, both of Chinotimba.

On another day, the court was told, Mwale and Ndlovu broke into Benedict Kakovaa��s yard and fished out through the window, a handbag with $10, 2 800 rand, and 20 pounds, all converted to $527.

In other incidents, Mwale and Sibanda stole goods worth $300 and blankets from different houses.

The housebreaking continued undetected until last month when police on patrol spotted Mwale in the process of fishing out a cellphone through the window at Pretty Sibandaa��s house.

The police approached Mwale and he fled but was caught after a chase, said the prosecutor.

The stolen goods were valued at $3 732 and nothing was recovered.