The Sunday News
Nobuhle Nyoni Sunday News Correspondent
A 56-YEAR-OLD Maphisa woman has been fined $40 for selling mbanje at a bottlestore.
The woman, Margaret Rushambwa of 477 Garikai houses in Maphisa, appeared before Kezi resident magistrate Mr Jimmy Ntonga for possessing illegal drugs.
It is the State’s case as presented by Mr Shamiso Ncube that on 4 April this year a constable Matari was on patrol in the company of another colleague.
They received a tip-off while at Chutu Bottle Store that the accused was selling mbanje and laid an ambush.
The two police officers closely monitored the accused and at around 10pm they pounced on Rushambwa who was selling the illegal drug to a male adult who took to his heels when he saw the law enforcers.
Upon searching her, the police officers discovered nine twists of mbanje which led to her immediate arrest.
Rushambwa pleaded guilty and told the court that she is unemployed and was trying to fend for her family.
As a first time offender, she was ordered to pay $40, failure to which she would spend 30 days in prison.
Meanwhile, six Bulawayo women including one who is eight months pregnant went on a stealing spree in Maphisa where they looted groceries and electrical gadgets from several shops.
The six, Duduzile Ngwenya (35) of 8910 Nkulumane 5, Merlyn Ncube (39) of 6816 Nkulumane 5, Thobekile Dube (29) of 8186 Pumula East, Nqobile Sibanda (27) of 5936 Old Pumula, Primrose Phiri (22) of 5570 Old Pumula and Sakhile Dube (20) of 886 Old Magwegwe appeared before the same magistrate facing five counts of theft.
The court heard that on 6 April this year the six connived to go and steal groceries and electrical gadgets in Maphisa.
They boarded a Toyota Noah vehicle registration number ABO 0593 which was being driven by Mabutho Sibanda the following day and proceeded to Maphisa.
The court heard that the six first looted groceries at Cooland Spar valued at $650 and took the stolen goods to a bushy area near the commuter omnibus terminus along the Bulawayo-Plumtree highway.
After hiding the loot they went into Manlee Electrical Shop where they stole some goods including a Nokia Asha mobile phone valued $80.
They then went to Savemor supermarket where they also stole other goods valued at $39 before proceeding to Vee Kay Stores and Phelandaba supermarket where they stole other goods and loaded the loot into their gate away car.
However, their luck ran out when they were leaving Kezi Shopping Centre where it was discovered that they did not have receipts for goods that were in their possession.
They were apprehended and handed over to the police and all the goods were recovered.
Passing sentence, the magistrate took into consideration that all of them were first time offenders.
Ngwenya was sentenced to nine months in prison which were wholly suspended on condition that she performs 315 hours community service at Mabukudwana Primary School.
Ncube, Thobekile, Sibanda and Phiri were each sentenced to nine months in prison of which three months were suspended for five years on condition that they did not within that period commit any offence involving dishonesty.
The remaining six months were suspended on condition that they perform 210 hours of community service.
Sakhile, who is pregnant, was also sentenced to nine months which were wholly suspended because of her condition.
The driver of the vehicle, Mabutho Sibanda, was acquitted as the six women told the court that they had told him that they were going to buy groceries for a club they were part of.
