The Sunday News
Mncedisi Buhali Sunday News Reporter
THE mischief of an 18-year-old Bulawayo maid landed her in trouble after she stole her boss’s police uniform and wore it to town, claiming she was on patrol. Mary Sibanda of Mzilikazi was arrested by a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police when he questioned her upon meeting her in the central business district. Sibanda appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate Mr Enias Magate and was charged with unlawful possession or wearing a police uniform as defined in Section 32 of the Criminal Law (codification and reform) Act Chapter 9.23.
She pleaded guilty to the charges and told the magistrate that her mischief caused her to act that way.
However, it was Sibanda’s lucky day as she was warned and discharged by Mr Magate.
When passing sentence, Mr Magate said: “You committed a serious offence, but today I will be lenient. Do not put on that uniform ever because it is meant for particular people. If you want to wear that uniform join those particular people, so that they can issue it to you and you can become a police officer. The reasons for this sentence are that, you are just a young girl who was just mischievous and you pleaded guilty to the charges, thus, you did not waste the court’s time.”
Prosecuting, Mr Dumisani Ndlovu stated that on 18 June at around 7am the accused was left at home by her employer Platinah Dodzo while she was going for duty at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Bulawayo Provincial Headquarters.
Sibanda then took advantage of being alone and wore Dodzo’s ZRP uniform which includes a grey shirt, blue riot trousers and web belt.
It is alleged that Sibanda then went out of the house to Bulawayo central business district wearing the police uniform mixed with civilian clothes, black tennis shoes and a hand bag.
Sibanda was seen by Shepherd Magwaza, a member of the Zimbabwe National Army who then advised Livison Ncube, a ZRP member, after having questioned the way in which the accused was dressed.
Ncube questioned Sibanda about the attire, and she in turn told him that she was a police officer stationed at Mabuthweni Camp, but she failed to give her force number.
She was taken to ZRP Mzilikazi where Dodzo’s particulars were found in her handbag. Dodzo was then contacted and on arrival she identified Sibanda as her maid.
A report was then made and Sibanda was placed in police custody.
