Zimpapers Logo

Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A TEENAGER from Selonga area in Gwanda District stole property from his 78-year-old neighbour “to raise money for school fees,” a magistrate heard yesterday.

Nqobile Ndlovu, 19, told Olivia Mashava Mashaire that he was forced to steal from Tsiliso Nare because he dropped out of school last year as he was unable to pay school fees.

He stole two cellphones, a wrist watch and a cap which he said he had intended to sell.

“I was tempted to steal because I needed money for fees. I needed to go back to school. I’m supposed to be doing Form Four at Selonga Secondary but last term I didn’t go to school. I’m still being looked after by my parents but they failed to pay my fees last term,” said Ndlovu.

The magistrate asked Ndlovu’s father, Nkululeko Ndlovu who was seated in the gallery why he had not paid for his child’s fees. He admitted in court that he had not paid his son’s school fees.

“Your Worship, he’s actually repeating his Ordinary Level and I never refused to pay his fees. I’d promised to pay but I told him that I would have to first concentrate on his siblings,” said Nkululeko.

Ndlovu pleaded guilty to both charges of unlawful entry and theft and was remanded in custody to today for sentence.

He begged the magistrate not to send him to prison. The prosecutor Edward Ndlovu told the court that Ndlovu broke into Nare’s homestead on April 27 this year at night.

“On April 27 at around 11PM, the accused person unlawfully entered into the complainant’s house through an open window while the complainant was asleep.

“While inside, the accused disconnected the battery powered lights of the house and started to look for things to steal,” said Ndlovu.

The court heard that Nare woke up to relieve herself but ran back to her bedroom and slept on realising that the lights had been switched off.

Ndlovu stole two cellphones, a watch and a cap before leaving the homestead. A report was made to the police and villagers were mobilised and they traced the footprints at the crime scene to Ndlovu, leading to his arrest and recovery of the stolen property at his home.