A 37-year-old Harare man will spend the next eight months in prison after being convicted of theft at the Mbare Magistrates’ Court.

Howard Zvareva was sentenced to a total of 12 months in jail for stealing a car battery valued at USD 400. Four months of the sentence were suspended for five years on the condition that he maintains good behavior.

The crime occurred on January 23, 2026, at the Lochinvar Truck Stop. The victim had parked his truck at the site around 11:00 a.m., only to be informed later that day that his batteries were missing.

Following the report, the truck stop owner reviewed CCTV footage, which clearly showed Zvareva stealing the property from the vehicle
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Police investigations quickly led to the arrest of the offender and the successful recovery of the stolen items.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) confirmed the conviction this week, using the case to remind the public to seek legal means of earning a living rather than resorting to crime.

A Revenue Assistant employed by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), Wellington Tsaurai Chinyemba, has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on allegations of bribery.

According to reports, the incident took place in St Mary’s, Chitungwiza, where Chinyemba allegedly disconnected electricity at a residential property belonging to Mr Clever Mpofu. The disconnection was said to be based on claims of illegal electricity connections.

However, the situation escalated when Chinyemba allegedly demanded a bribe of US$300 from the property owner, promising to reconnect the power supply and facilitate the clearance of the purported fines.

Suspicious of the demand, Mpofu sought clarification from ZESA, where he was informed that the request for money was unlawful and not part of official procedures. Acting on this information, Mpofu reported the matter to ZACC.

The anti-corruption body swiftly moved in, setting up a trap to catch the suspect in the act. The operation led to Chinyemba’s arrest after he allegedly accepted the bribe money.

ZACC has since confirmed the arrest, reinforcing its commitment to combating corruption in public institutions and encouraging citizens to report any suspicious or unethical conduct by officials.

Chinyemba is expected to appear in court soon to face bribery charges. If convicted, he could face serious legal consequences under Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption laws.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity among public servants and highlights the role of vigilant citizens in the fight against corruption.

Chatunga Mugabe and Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze appeared at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court this morning, where their case was postponed to Tuesday, 24 March 2026.

The postponement comes as a plea agreement between the State and the accused is close to being finalised, with only a small portion still outstanding.

The court was unable to proceed with the matter today after the State indicated that it was not yet ready to continue.

Last Wednesday, the two accused withdrew their bail applications after it was revealed that they were in the country illegally.

The case is expected to resume once the plea deal has been fully concluded.