Responsible drunk loses car, cash and cellphone to...

Responsible drunk loses car, cash and cellphone to fellow bar patron after asking to be driven home

Michael Mashiri

A Mabelreign man who was asked by a fellow patron in a bar to drive him home because he was intoxicated has appeared in court for stealing the car after leaving the imbiber at his home.

George Chatambudza, 29, of Mabelreign appeared before magistrate Stanford Mambanje at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with stealing a car.

He will appear in court on Monday for bail application.

The State alleges that on June 30, at around 0200 hours, the complainant in this matter, Jonathan Shaw and Chatambudza were drinking beer at Plaza Di-Castilla Night Club, at Greencroft Shopping Centre in Harare.

Shaw became drunk and requested Chatambudza, whom he knew as a patron at the same bar, to drive him home.

Chatambudza agreed and he drove Shaw to his house.

When they arrived, Shaw entered his house and went to bed.

On the same date, at around 1100 hours Shaw woke up and realised that his car was not at its usual parking place.

He also looked for Chatambudza and he was nowhere to be found.

In the car there was a Samsung phone and US$1 500.

He filed a report at ZRP Avondale.

On July 4, 2023, Chatambudza was involved in a road accident while driving the car he had stolen. It was checked in the CVR database and showed that it had been stolen, leading to his arrest.

The car had minor dents that were as result of the accident.

The value of the car was US$10 000.