A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to an effective 12 months in prison for stealing a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) vehicle from Chemagamba Police Camp in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.
Godfrey Musa Ndlovu was convicted by the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to the theft, which the court described as a serious breach of trust involving state property.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, the incident occurred on December 7, 2025, at around 5 a.m., when a police officer was preparing to travel to Mutoko using a silver Kia Rio patrol vehicle. Ndlovu, who is related to the officer’s neighbour, asked for a lift into Chinhoyi town and was permitted to load his belongings into the car.
Before departure, the officer briefly returned to his home to retrieve a cellphone, leaving the car keys in a jacket on the seat. Ndlovu seized the opportunity, took the keys and sped off in the vehicle.
Police later received information about his movements and intercepted him near Thrills Service Station, where he was travelling in an unregistered taxi known locally as a mushikashika. He was arrested and led officers to Ruvimbo Phase 2, where the stolen car was recovered.
The vehicle, valued at US$6,000, had been tampered with. Its registration plates were removed, the third plate altered, the police radio disconnected, and the communication aerial damaged. The missing plates, valued at US$650, were not recovered.
Ndlovu was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment, with 18 months suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving an effective 12-month custodial term. In its ruling, the court underscored that state assets are protected by law and warned that breaches of trust and unlawful conduct would attract stiff penalties.
