A 32-year-old Victoria Falls man has been sentenced to an effective nine months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing 15 roofing sheets worth US$340 from a property in Mkhosana.
Carrison Cuthbert Masuku was sentenced last week at the Victoria Falls Magistrate’s Court after admitting to aggravated unlawful entry into premises.
The court sentenced Masuku to 15 months in prison, with six months suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence. The remaining nine months were effective.
The court heard that on 2 September 2026, at around 2am, Masuku and his two co-accused, Handsome Mhlanga, 27, and Hilton Nick Bhebhe, 26, allegedly went to the complainant’s home in Mkhosana.
According to the State, the three entered the complainant’s unfinished house through an open entrance and stole 15 IRBM roofing sheets measuring 4.5 metres each.
The complainant, Andrew Mwanza, 54.
Mwanza reportedly woke up after hearing noise and saw the accused persons running away after they realised they had been spotted.
He followed their footprints and found the 15 roofing sheets lying inside the CCAP church yard before reporting the matter to the police.
Investigations led to the recovery of two cellphones allegedly belonging to Masuku and Mhlanga. The stolen roofing sheets were also recovered and could be produced in court as exhibits.
The total value of the stolen property was US$340.
While Masuku pleaded guilty and was sentenced, his two co-accused have denied the charge.
Mhlanga and Bhebhe pleaded not guilty and have been placed on full trial, meaning the allegations against them will be determined through the trial process.
The three were facing a charge of aggravated unlawful entry into premises as defined under Section 131(1)(2)(e) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
The case was prosecuted by Daphne Ntini before magistrate Fungai Dzimiri.