Man Jailed for Using Political Party Claim to Get Free Chicken Inn Meals

A 52-year-old Harare man has been sentenced to 20 days in prison after twice leaving a Chicken Inn outlet without paying for meals, claiming that a political party would settle the bills on his behalf.

Nevan Nyarugwe pleaded guilty to two counts of making off without payment when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ayanda Dhlamini.

The court heard that on July 31, Nyarugwe visited a Chicken Inn outlet along Samora Machel Avenue and ordered a three-piece chicken meal valued at US$9. He allegedly told staff that his political party would pay for the food before leaving the premises without settling the bill.

He returned to the same outlet on August 7 and repeated the claim, this time obtaining a one-piece meal worth US$3. He again left without making payment.

The two incidents left Chicken Inn with an outstanding bill of US$12.

Investigations later revealed that the political party cited by Nyarugwe had not paid the bills.

Magistrate Dhlamini sentenced him to 20 days in prison, but wholly suspended the sentence on condition that he pays the full US$12 owed.

Prosecutor Takudzwa Mutyavaviri represented the State.