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Court Reporter
AN unrepentant street conman who has seven previous convictions was yesterday back in court facing charges of stealing from airtime vendors. Only Nkala (28), who sometimes uses the name Owen, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa facing three counts of theft.

His previous convictions date back to 2011.
Mr Shepherd Nhamburo for the State told the court that on 17 September, Nkala approached Ms Tsepang Thembani Nare (19) of Emakhandeni who was selling airtime recharge cards.

He allegedly asked for her handset saying his battery was low and left in her custody a plastic bag containing stones, an empty cellphone box and old cassettes.

The phone valued at $250 was later recovered.

Two days later, Nkala allegedly stole airtime recharge cards worth $15 from a 13-year-old vendor at the corner of Fort Street and 11th Avenue.

It is alleged that he initially told the girl that he wanted $5 worth of airtime and later said he needed $15 worth of airtime recharge cards, which he was given.

The court was told that Nkala left a bag filled with stones and papers with the girl as surety promising that he was going to collect money from Fort 11 Flea Market to pay for the airtime.

On the third count, Nkala allegedly stole $30 worth of airtime recharge cards from Ms Alice Chitonga, a vendor along 14th Avenue after lying to her that his boss had sent him to buy $30 worth of airtime and the money was at his office across the street.

He allegedly gave her the cellphone handset he had stolen from Ms Nare as surety.
A report was made to the police leading to Nkala’s arrest.

Nkala was yesterday sentenced to 12 months in prison for another case with four months being suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. He will be back in court for plea recording next Wednesday.