A DARING soldier reportedly got intoxicated on mbanje and went to a police station where he stole a patrol bicycle. Nokuthaba Dlamini Own correspondent
Mpendulo Moyo (21) of Infantry Battalion in Masvingo appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Sharon Rosemani and pleaded guilty to theft and possession of a dangerous drug.
It was the State’s case that on November 28 at around 11pm, three police officers were on patrol in Chinotimba and they decided to leave their bicycles at Chinotimba Police Base and patrol on foot.
They returned a few minutes later and found one bicycle missing.
The police officers started asking people who were near the base and Method Tshuma revealed that he had seen a man wearing military fatigue taking the bicycle and cycling along Mkhosana Road.
The three followed the lead and they spotted Moyo at Mkhosana turnoff, but he immediately ran towards the bush, abandoning the bicycle. The officers gave chase, apprehended him and found him in possession of three twists of mbanje, leading to his arrest.
However, in mitigation, Moyo told Rosemani that he was trying to raise money for bus fare as he had spent all he had buying beer.
“I was off duty and I decided to come to Victoria Falls,” he said.
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“l was now looking for money to return to work, as l had drunk all that l had. I wanted to sell the bicycle to raise money.
“I beg the courts to be lenient with me. I still want my job and I don’t want to go to prison.”
Rosemani strongly cautioned Moyo to desist from stealing saying he would end up in prison and losing his job.
He sentenced Moyo to perform 105 hours of community service at Jambezi Police Station on count one and to pay $50 or five weeks’ imprisonment on count two.
