Mnangagwa amnesty beneficiary arrested 3 times

A Harare man who was previously released under a presidential amnesty has once again been arrested for theft, marking his third arrest in separate cases within a short period.

Emmanuel Chinembiri (39) appeared before a Harare magistrate facing charges of stealing an iPhone 15 Pro Max worth US$1 650.

Court proceedings heard that Chinembiri was released under a presidential amnesty in December last year after serving a sentence for unlawful entry. However, within a week of his release, he was arrested again for theft, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to community service by a Mbare magistrate.

While still serving that sentence, he allegedly committed another theft. His most recent arrest relates to a report filed on April 4 by a complainant in Warren Park, Harare, whose phone was stolen from a motor vehicle.

Police say the victim was able to track the device to Chinembiri's residence. The suspect was later seen attempting to sell a phone matching the stolen device's description at Warren Park 1 shopping centre.

Officers subsequently arrested him and recovered the stolen phone from under a sofa at his home, where he reportedly admitted to the theft during questioning.

Chinembiri has since been remanded for sentencing after pleading guilty.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about repeat offending among individuals released under leniency measures, particularly where rehabilitation conditions are not fully observed.