Tsvangirai and accomplices escape jail time for st...

Tsvangirai and accomplices escape jail time for stealing chicken

Zim Now Writer

Three Bikita men, Saul Mhizha, 23, Taurai Tsvangirai, 43, and Christopher Marufu, 32, narrowly avoided jail time after being found guilty of stealing chickens from their employer.

Edeline Tafadzwa Mapamba, the owner of the chickens, entrusted 471 birds to the trio, who were her employees, on February 6, 2024. The agreement stipulated that the men were responsible for reporting any deaths among the flock.

It was, however, noted that on March 5, a neighbour spotted the accused carrying a dead chicken and fleeing the scene. This raised suspicion, prompting Mapamba to investigate, and she discovered 57 chickens missing, with only one dead bird recovered.

The recovered chicken, valued at a mere US$6, served as the sole piece of evidence against the men. Despite this, the magistrate found them guilty and sentenced them to a four-month prison term, wholly suspended on the condition of good behaviour for five years.

In another case, Brighton Machayasimbi, 40, appeared before the Chegutu Magistrates’ Courts on charges of violating the Electricity Act by damaging ZETDC property.

The incident occurred on March 30, 2024, around 11:30 am, when police received a tip-off about someone tampering with a ZETDC pylon at Umvovo Farm in Chegutu. Officers responded swiftly and arrived at the scene to find two individuals dismantling the pylon. Upon noticing the police, the suspects fled, but were pursued, leading to the apprehension of Machayasimbi.

Authorities recovered a satchel containing various tools believed to be used in the crime, including angle irons, bolts, nuts, a shifting spanner, and a size 18 spanner.

Machayasimbi was denied bail and remanded in custody until his next court appearance scheduled for April 11, 2024.