Nkosentsha Khumalo
An interesting sentence has been passed by a Bulawayo Magistrate Court over theft of US$2.
A 40-year-old Bulawayo man from the upscale Burnside suburb has been thrown behind bars for forcibly stealing a paltry amount of US$2.
Ezekiel Lunga, a resident of Beverly Close Road, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery charges at the Bulawayo provincial Magistrates’ Court.
Magistrate Rachel Mukanga presiding over the case and sentenced Lunga to 30 months in prison, with 12 of those months suspended for 5 years on the condition that he does not commit any similar offenses involving violence or dishonesty.
He is to serve an effective sentence 18 months in prison.
Prosecutor Nhlalo Dube and Siphiwe Mhlanga revealed the details of Lunga’s ill-fated robbery attempt, which occurred on the evening of July 6, 2022.
Lunga encountered Farai Fellix Mukute from Nkulumane 5 at a sanitary Lane along Old Khami Road and threatened him with an Okapi knife before searching him and stealing the two dollar note.
However, Lunga’s attempt at a quick cash grab was foiled by two Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) security guards who happened to be on the scene.
The guards apprehended Lunga and promptly marched him to the police station, where he was arrested.
Despite the fact that the two dollars was recovered, Magistrate Mukanga ruled that Lunga’s crime was premeditated and could have resulted in a much larger theft had Mukute been carrying more money.
Mukanga emphasized that robbery is a serious offense that invariably leads to jail time and that community service would be an injustice to the victim.
While the streets of Bulawayo may be a little safer with Lunga behind bars, one cannot help but ponder the strange circumstances that led to his downfall, all for a mere US$2.
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