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Noleen Makhurane Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man has told a court that powerful evil spirits influenced him to break into a house in Thorngrove suburb to steal property worth $20. Faison Muzamba, 63, yesterday appeared before magistrate Tinashe Tashaya facing a charge of unlawful entry and theft. He pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody to May 4 for sentencing.

Muzamba told the court that he was under the spell of evil spirits when he committed the offence. “I was born in 1953 and in all the years I’ve been alive, I’ve never committed any crime. ‘‘This evil spirit that got over me was powerful,” Muzamba said.

Prosecuting, Magret Takawira said on the morning of April 25, Muzamba jumped over a stone wall at one Archie Johns’ house in Thorngrove suburb. He entered a store room and stole a paraffin stove, two empty beer crates and two 25 litre empty buckets all valued at $20.

Takawira said Johns heard some noise and when he went to investigate, Muzamba fled leaving the stolen property at the gate. Johns chased after him and managed to apprehend him. He handed him over to the police.

Muzamba pleaded with the magistrate to be lenient on him, saying he came to court hungry and had not eaten anything since his arrest. “When evil spirits possess you it’s difficult to control yourself,” he said.