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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A SHOPLIFTER who stole groceries worth $114 from TM Supermarket in Victoria Falls left a magistrate speechless when she said she steals from shops for a living.
Mayibongwe Nkomo, 35, a single mother of four, from Mkhosana Township, told Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani that she stole because she wanted to raise money for her minor children as their fathers abandoned them.

“I’ve four children with different men and all of them are going to school while the eldest is wheelchair bound. I wanted money to pay their fees and buy food because their fathers are not supporting them,” said Nkomo.

Asked by the magistrate how she fends for her children, Nkomo said: “I survive on shoplifting.”
Magistrate Rosemani was taken aback by the candid answer.

Nkomo pleaded guilty to shoplifting and was sentenced to two months in jail which were suspended on condition she completes 70 hours of community service at the Victoria Falls Registry Office starting tomorrow.

In sentencing Nkomo, Rosemani said she had proved to be a sophisticated thief but was lucky because she was a woman who the courts should treat with leniency.

“I considered that you’re a female and females are treated with leniency. I also considered that all the stolen goods were recovered hence nothing was prejudiced but in aggravation you showed a high degree of dishonesty. The fact that you were able to conceal all those things in your handbag shows that you’ve the skill to steal,” said the magistrate.

“However, you’re still young and able to work. You should not survive on stealing and for that I’ll not fine you but give you community service so that maybe it can deter you from committing more crime.”

Prosecutor Takuda Ndovorwi told how Nkomo entered TM Supermarket on Friday last week and stole perfumes, lotion, hairpieces and red wine and made off without paying.

“On October 17 the accused entered TM Supermarket at 5.30pm and took the property and made off without payment. The accused was spotted by police officers who arrested her and took her back to the shop. The goods were scanned and showed that they were missing from the shop,” said the prosecutor.