The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
A 32-YEAR-OLD Chipinge man who duped unsuspecting vendors after posing as a ZIMRA official was on Tuesday jailed for two years.
Jealous Sithole, who resides at 350 CRC, Gaza, Chipinge was convicted after two state witnesses gave incriminating evidence against him.
Chipinge magistrate Mr Joshua Nembaware concluded that Sithole had committed a serious offence warranting a custodial sentence.
“The accused deserved a heavy punishment for duping unsuspecting vendors. He is sentenced to 24 months imprisonment.
“Four months are suspended on condition that the accused restitutes the two complainants $370 and $340, respectively by 28 June through the clerk of court,” he said.
Prosecuting, Mr Shamiso Ncube said on an unknown date but in February, Sithole approached one of the complainants Fortunate Mapfumo at her homestead and misrepresented that he was a ZIMRA employee.
“He lied that he is stationed at Mt Selinda. Sithole asked for the sum of $370 from the complainant so that he buys cheap groceries on auction for the complainant at Mt Selinda border post.
“The complainant met the accused at Gabaza bottle store where he gave him R900 and some bond notes to make a total of $340. On the same day, the accused approached the complainant and told him that there was a new order of grocery and asked for an additional $30, but the accused did not deliver the grocery and went on to switch off his cellphone,” she said.
On the second count, Mrs Ncube said Sithole approached Netsai Chisiku, a female residing at house number 1703,Gaza in Chipinge.
“The accused approached the complainant on the date unknown using the same modus operandi and asked $340 to buy grocery on auction at Mount Selinda border post. He did not deliver the grocery and went on to switch his cellphone.
“On February 28, the complainant received information that the accused person was at Gabaza bottle store and she alerted detectives leading to his arrest,” said Mrs Ncube.
