Student teacher steals to pay prostitute

A STUDENT teacher at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda Town stole property worth $90 to pay a "prostitute".

Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe sentenced Bekithemba Dube, 27, to 15 months imprisonment for unlawful entry and theft of a DVD player and a DStv decoder.

Six months were conditionally suspended for five years while the remaining nine months were commuted to 315 hours of community service at the Gwanda Magistrates' Court starting today.

In passing the sentence, Nazombe chided the student: "You should learn to respect other people's premises and their property."

Although Dube had pleaded not guilty to the charges, he admitted being found with the stolen property on July 18.

"I didn't steal the property but I picked it up near Phumulani Hotel and I intended to sell it. It's not true that I needed sexual favours as I only went to the hotel seeking a place to sleep because I was drunk," he said.

"I didn't take it to the police because I was trying my luck so that I could raise a few cents for myself."

However, an investigating officer in the matter, Detective Elson Zimuto, told the court that investigations revealed that Dube wanted to exchange the stolen property for sex with ladies residing at the hotel.

Phumulani Hotel has become popular for housing sex workers.

"During the same night the accused person proceeded to Phumulani Groceries booking house where he requested to have sexual intercourse with one of the occupants and in return he was going to pay using the stolen property which he was holding," said prosecutor Getrude Zvidzai.

She said the alleged sex workers turned down his offer but instead reported him to police leading to his arrest and recovery of the stolen property.