Adelaide Moyo Chronicle Reporter
POLICE in Victoria Falls have arrested a serial burglar who would steal from residents and smuggle the property for sale in Zambia.

Bongani Moyo, 36, originally from Chinotimba had moved to Maramba Compound in Livingstone, Zambia where he would hide his loot.

Moyo and his accomplice, Mesa Banda, 34, a Zambian national, were arrested after they hit a salon in the resort town where they stole a plasma TV set, laptop, DVD player, an iron and other electrical gadgets.

Moyo has two previous convictions for unlawful entry and theft. In January 2011 he was sentenced to three months in jail which were suspended on condition he doesn’t commit similar crimes within three years.

During the same year in August he was sentenced to three months in prison which was wholly suspended on condition that he performs 170 hours community service at ZRP in Victoria Falls which he did.

Moyo has been allegedly committing similar crimes stealing mostly electrical gadgets and taking them across the Zambezi River using canoes.

On Wednesday he appeared jointly charged with Banda to answer to two counts of unlawful entry and theft while police are still investigating more incidents.

This was after police recovered goods worth more than $2,000 which were hidden along the river bank waiting to be smuggled across.

The duo pleaded not guilty claiming they were being framed.

However, Victoria Falls magistrate Rangarirai Gakanje convicted them due to overwhelming evidence.

Moyo and Banda were remanded in custody to today for sentence.

In his defence Moyo claimed the charges were misplaced.

“I went to Chute (Ncube’s) place to collect my money and he told me that he would have to sell a TV set so he could pay my money. I was shocked when police arrested us when we went to view the TV,” Moyo said.

Prosecuting, Listen Nare said on October 4 at around 2AM Norman Noble who owns Hairy Fairy Salon locked the gates and doors as he went home.

“The accused persons teamed up with Ncube and connived to steal at the complainant’s salon. Between 2AM and 7AM the three jumped over a precast wall and used a metal object to push the sliding doors open,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard that they stole a Plasma TV, a laptop, a DVD player, a hair dryer and a hair iron and went away unnoticed.

Noble discovered that there was a break in when he turned up in the morning to open the shop and reported the matter to the police.

The police tracked down some footprints from the scene to Chinotimba Township and then to a deserted area along the Zambezi River.

Moyo and Banda were arrested near the gorges after police laid an ambush.

The duo was caught as they prepared to take the loot across the river.

The total value of stolen goods was $2,300 and goods worth $2,180 were recovered.

 

You Might Also Like

Comments