18 bus passengers steal at accident scene

Eighteen travellers aboard a Leighwoods bus travelling from Bulawayo to Masvingo are in trouble for stealing from a haulage truck which had been involved in an accident on the highway.

The accused are Gladys Zeyi (29), Jeremiah Zari (31), Felix Dinga (32), Blessing William (33), Thabani Sithole (25), Ellah Kapungu (25), Patricia Sanhanga (23), Laina Zunga (40) Nester Muzhizhizhi (26), Lydia Mlambo (33), Memory Munyoro (32), Sylvester Chabanga (24), Anxious Mbumburu (27), Sibongile Ncube (39), Terence Marinda (36), Talent Marufu (24), Tendai Munamato (32) and Robert Goza (29).

They all pleaded guilty to the offence when they appeared before magistrate Dorothy Mwanyisa facing theft charges.

Kapungu and Zunga were warned, cautioned and discharged and the rest were fined $20 each.Appearing for the State, Takunda Chikwati told the court that on October 26, the bus arrived at the accident scene on the 125 kilometre peg at around 2am where Mazoe Orange Crush bottles that the truck had been carrying had fallen off and were strewn on the ground.

The 18 disembarked from the bus and picked up the bottles before proceeding on their journey.

However, luck ran out for them as they were spotted by passing motorists and were intercepted by police in Masvingo where the drinks, valued at $135,48, were recovered.