The ManicaPost
Weekender Correspondent —
AN UNREPENTANT house breaker will spent the next 42 months in prison after he was convicted of four counts of unlawful entry into the Mutare Teachers’ College premises and theft charges by a Mutare court.
Blessing Samu (27) pleaded guilty to four of the five unlawful entry charges he was facing when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira.
He was being charged with contravening Section 131(1) as read with Section 131(2)(e) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 23:09.
Prosecuting was Mr Fletcher Karombe. In passing his sentence, Mr Gwezhira said Samu deserved a stiffer penalty as he had taken for granted his previous convictions were custodial sentences had been suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Allegations were that Samu stole goods worth $1 100 from Mutare Teachers’ College staff and students, only goods worth $20 were recovered.
“On one occasion, Samu broke and entered into a hostel at the college, stole a laptop. Upon his arrest, Samu led to the recovery of the laptop from a nearby mountain.
“He also stole a G-Tel cellphone and $50 cash from Tafadzwa Mazaika (27)’s quarters at the college. When Mazaika woke up and saw him, Samu ran away with the property,” said Mr Karombe.
The G-Tel phone was tracked and recovered from Witness Mafasitera in Chipinge.
Samu who did not only pounce on college dwellers, also pleaded guilty to breaking and entering into some Chikanga houses.
It was also alleged Samu with his accomplice Tatenda Sengai, who is still at large, unlawfully entered into Petronella Mugijima’s Chikanga house and stole four Kango pots and $300 cash which was stored in one of the kango pots.
Samu will serve an effective 42 months in prison after six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour and a further three months were suspended on conditions of restitution.
