The ManicaPost
Tanyaradzwa Mujati
Post Reporter
STEALING fertiliser worth US$44 075 from Zimbabwe’s diplomat to Tanzania, Ambassador Anslem Sanyatwe, has earned a Nyanga man a nine-year jail term.
Evans Kamombo (57) was on Monday sentenced to nine years in jail by Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Richard Ramaboa, after a full trial.
Three years of the sentence were suspended on condition of restitution, while another two years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, hence Kamambo will serve an effective four-year jail term if he return the fertiliser.
Kamambo had pleaded not guilty to the theft charges as defined in Section 113(2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
Prosecuting, Mr Nyasha Gerald Mukonyora said Kamombo stole 469x50kg of Ammonium Nitrate and 509x50kg of Compound D fertiliser and sold it to hardware shops in Nyanga.
Mr Makonyora said sometime in December 2021, Ambassador Sanyatwe who has a farm in Nyanga received a consignment of 640x50kg of Ammonium Nitrate and 560x50kg of Compound D fertiliser.
He assigned Kamombo to keep it safe.
“During the same month, Ambassador Sanyatwe instructed Kamombo to use 171x50kg of Ammonium Nitrate and 51x50kg of Compound D fertiliser at his farm.
However, Kamombo took some of the fertiliser and sold it to several hardware shops in Nyanga.
“When Ambassador Sanyatwe came back in August and conducted a stock take, he discovered that 469x50kg of Ammonium Nitrate and 509x50kg of Compound D were missing.
“He confronted Kamombo but the suspect failed to give a convincing explanation of what had happened to the fertiliser. A report was made to the police, thereby leading to his arrest,” said Mr Makonyora.
Fertiliser valued at US$44 075 was stolen and nothing was recovered.
