The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
A SECURITY officer in Gwanda has been sentenced to 210 hours of community service after he set the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development premises that he was guarding on fire while trying to warm himself.
Bruce Kondowe (20) who was working at the Ministry of Transport premises in Senondo area, Gwanda was convicted on his own plea of guilty to negligently causing damage to property by Gwanda magistrate Mr Obedience Matare.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment which was wholly suspended on condition he performs 210 hours of community service at Sabiwa Primary School.Prosecuting, Mr Moses Gondongwe said Kondowe was guarding the premises on 13 October when he lit a fire to warm himself.
“On 13 October around 6pm, Gondongwe assumed duty to guard the Ministry of Transport premises. During the night he lit a fire in a wooden storeroom to warm himself up. The following day around 6am Kondowe knocked off duty but didn’t completely put out the fire. The fire spread across the wooden storeroom and burnt a compactor plate that was inside,” he said.
Mr Gondongwe said one of the workers saw smoke coming out of the storeroom and alerted other workmates. He said the workers managed to put out the fire before it could damage other property. He said the damaged property is valued at $1 000.
In mitigation Kondowe begged with the court’s leniency citing that he did not intend to cause any damage as he lit the fire just to warm himself. He said he had assumed that he had completely put out the fire when he knocked off.
