The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa Weekender Correspondent —
A 25-YEAR-OLD conman who was in the habit of waylaying unsuspecting Mutare disc-jockeys and stealing their tools of the trade was arrested recently.
Lazarus Muyambo of Number 129 DC, Mutasa Township, Mutasa pleaded guilty to all six counts of theft as defined in Section 113(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
He appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira last Friday. The matter was adjourned to December 15 for sentencing. He was remanded in custody.
The State led by Mr Fletcher Karombe alleged that Muyambo would approach the complainants who all are DJs on different occasions and lie to them that he was hosting a family party at an undisclosed house in one of the city’s low-density suburbs.
He would further sweet talk the unsuspecting DJs to attend the party for a fee. On all occasions, the complainants would collect their tools of the trade which include a laptop, speakers, power packs and microphones for use at the said party.
“Muyambo would immediately invite the unsuspecting DJ to accompany him to the party. He would hire a taxi. Along the way, he would enter into a supermarket with the complainant after leaving the tools of the trade in a taxi purporting that he wanted to buy groceries for the party.
“Muyambo would give the complainant the trolley to push around the supermarket as he collected different groceries and beer from the shelves, putting them into the trolley,” said Mr Karombe.
It was further alleged that at all times, Muyambo would dodge the complainants who would be pushing the full trolleys in the supermarket and proceed to the taxi where he would collect the DJs’ tools of the trade and disappear.
DJs who fell prey to Muyambo’s con artistry include Dean Chikuruwo, Saul Gopito, Blessing Mugowa, Elton Samanga, Gracious Gombe and Joseph Garai.
Asked on why he committed the offence, Muyambo said he did not know what had gotten over him at all times.
“Your Worship, I beg for your forgiveness, something just came over me and I do not know what, but I was not in control of myself,” he said.
Muyambo stole property worth $2 000 and all was recovered.
