Cross-border car thieves jailed

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TWO Bulawayo men were on Friday jailed by a Hwange magistrate for driving a car stolen in neighbouring Botswana.

TWO Bulawayo men were on Friday jailed by a Hwange magistrate for driving a car stolen in neighbouring Botswana.

Nokuthaba Dlamini Own correspondent

Simon Mawaidze (36) of Pumula South and Mike Chizunza (21) of Njube suburb in Bulawayo had pleaded not guilty to the charge of theft of a motor vehicle, but admitted being in possession of stolen property.

In their defence the two said they did not know that they had bought a stolen car. They were sent by Ezekia Ndodini to drive it as he remained at the Kazungula border post processing its clearance.

Mawaidze was sentenced to three years while Chizunza got two years.

The court heard that in February last year, Mawaidze and Chizunza in the company of Ndodini, stole a Toyota Corolla sedan belonging to Balatedi Marata of Gaberone.

The three drove to Kazungula border post where Ndodini ordered Mawaidze to drive to Zimbabwe while he remained behind clearing the car with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).

Ndodini went through immigration formalities and proceeded to a Zimra counter where he tendered vehicle papers to an officer who noted that the registration book had no name and signature of the registering officer.

The officer alerted police who immediately arrested Ndodini. Further checks revealed that the car had already been driven into Zimbabwe.

Zimra officers alerted the Victoria Falls police who arrested the two before they reached the resort town. Police noticed that the number plates did not appear on the database. Ndodini is said to be serving in a Botswana jail.