Australian tourist arrested for stealing $45 from Zim vendor

AN Australian tourist has been arrested for allegedly stealing $45 from a curio vendor in Victoria Falls.

Brayden James Lewer (28) allegedly approached the vendor called Hopewell Mabika of Chinotimba suburb on Monday last week pretending he wanted to buy a curio worth $5.

He said he had $50 and the vendor gave him $45, after which he allegedly refused to hand over the $50.

Lewer pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani and was fined $50 or five weeks in jail.

Mabika tried to withdraw the case after Lewer paid him but the magistrate refused.

Magistrate Rosemani chided Lewer for being a thug in a foreign land and said he lucky because he was a first offender.

Lewer, in mitigation said he was drunk at the time and had not wished to steal from Mabika.

The court heard Lewer was a private bodyguard who had visited Zimbabwe or 30-day volunteer work for an anti-poaching organisation.

The court heard he only returned the money after he was arrested.