A Chinhoyi man, Godfrey Musa Ndlovu (23), has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court after being convicted of stealing a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) vehicle from Chemagamba Police Camp in Chinhoyi.
The court heard that on 7 December 2025, a ZRP officer was preparing to travel to Mutoko in a silver Kia Rio police vehicle when Ndlovu, a relative of the officer’s neighbour, asked for a lift into Chinhoyi town.
The officer agreed and allowed him to load his goods into the vehicle.
Before leaving, the officer briefly returned to his house to collect his mobile phone, leaving the vehicle keys in his jacket on the seat.
Ndlovu took advantage of the opportunity, picked up the keys, started the vehicle and drove off at high speed.
Following a tip-off, police later arrested Ndlovu near Thrills Service Station while he was travelling in an unregistered taxi, commonly known as a mushikashika. He later led officers to the stolen vehicle, which was recovered in Ruvimbo Phase 2, Chinhoyi.
The vehicle, valued at US$6,000, was found with its registration plates removed, the third plate altered, the police radio disconnected, and the communication aerial damaged.
The missing registration plates, valued at US$650, were not recovered.
Ndlovu was sentenced to 30 months in prison, with 18 months suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving an effective custodial sentence of 12 months.
