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Marvelous Moyo  Gwanda Correspondent
A MAN stole his friend’s automated teller machine (ATM) card and went on to withdraw his salary which he converted to his personal use, a court has heard.
Peter Lucky Mandura, 26, a merchandiser employed by Tanganda Tea Company, stole a ZB Bank ATM card belonging to his friend Reatile Sibanda, 38, also a merchandiser at the same company and withdrew $334 from his account.

The two live together in Gwanda.

Mandura was left with egg on his face after the bank’s security footage sold him out.

Appearing before Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe yesterday, Mandura pleaded guilty to stealing his friend’s $334 and said he intended to return the money before Sibanda realised that it had been withdrawn.

“I was unfortunate because I was arrested before I managed to deposit the money into Sibanda’s account. My salary was not enough and I needed more money to pay rentals and buy groceries for my family which lives in Pumula in Bulawayo,” he said.

Magistrate Nazombe denounced Mandura for betraying his friend by stealing his salary.

He was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Three months were suspended on condition that he restitutes Sibanda all his money by November 30 through the Gwanda Clerk of Court.

The remaining five months were suspended on condition that he completes 175 hours of community service at St Bernard’s High School in Bulawayo.

Prosecuting, Getrude Zvidzai said Mandura took Sibanda’s ZB Bank card on October 3, withdrew Sibanda’s salary and returned the card where he had found it before proceeding to Bulawayo.

After going to the bank several times and finding nothing in his bank account, on October 17, Sibanda asked for a balance statement from the bank.