Mutare Woman Arrested, Fined for Stealing Own Goods
By Delicious Mathuthu
Mutare- A-25-year-old woman was arrested and arraigned before the Mutare Magistrates’ Court facing theft charges for stealing her own goods from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials.
The woman, Maria Mwarehwa, was found guilty and fined US$105 or face 30 days in prison for stealing her R1000 (US$50) worth of diapers which had been confiscated by ZIMRA.
The National Prosecuting Authority, in a statement, said court records show that on December 2, 2024, police impounded a bus carrying smuggled goods, including baby diapers belonging to Mwarehwa, at the Old Rank in Mutare.
The following day, Mwarehwa approached a ZIMRA official to assess the duty for the diapers, which was determined to be US$50 as well.
Mwarehwa however hatched a plan to evade the assessment while the ZIMRA officials were preoccupied with other tasks.
She seized the opportunity to steal her smuggled diapers.
However, luck ran out before she got far as she was apprehended by detectives at Meikles Park in Mutare.
The stolen baby diapers were recovered and Mwarehwa was eventually convicted for the theft.
