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Auxilia Katongomara Court Reporter
TWO Zimpapers employees who connived to steal copies of newspapers for personal gain appeared in court yesterday charged with theft.
Nicholas Chimbadzo, 62, from Southwold who is employed as an assistant printer at the Bulawayo branch and Moses Changadzo, 33, a vendor from Emakhandeni pleaded guilty to the crime before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa.
Prosecuting, Caroline Matanga told how on Friday last week at around 3.30AM, the duo hatched a plan to steal newspaper copies for sale at Changadzo’s vending site along 23rd Avenue and Matopos Road.
“Chimbadzo then stole 30 copies of newspapers and went on to give Changadzo to sell. A security officer from Chronicle got a tip off and went to Changadzo’s selling point and recovered 30 newspapers leading to the arrest of Chimbadzo,” said Matanga.
Chimbadzo was later arrested at a pub in the city centre.
Passing sentence, Msipa took into consideration that the two were first-time offenders.
“The two offenders pleaded guilty to the charge. If sent to prison they would come out as hardened and be a burden to society and they are both breadwinners,” she said.
“In the circumstances, a fine coupled with a suspended sentence will do justice to this case.”
The two were fined $100 each or two months imprisonment in default by 30 June.
In their defence the two said they committed the crime because they did not have money.
Online Reporter