A 34-year-old employee at Mpilo Central Hospital, Lizuba Nkosi Ngula, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for stealing mobile phones from patients while they were in a vulnerable state.
As reported by <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/mpilo-worker-jailed-for-stealing-cellphones-from-patients/">The Sunday News</a>, Ngula exploited patients’ illnesses to steal their mobile phones, leading to his conviction on three counts of theft following a full trial.
While Ngula was sentenced to 12 months, Bulawayo Magistrate Nomagugu Maphosa conditionally suspended three months of the sentence.
The remaining nine months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that Ngula performs 315 hours of community service at Cowdray Park Primary School.
Ngula, from Nkulumane suburb, works as an HIV testing counselor for the Global Fund, stationed at Mpilo Central Hospital.
The court was told that in the first count, Ngula stole a Samsung Galaxy A05 phone from Lucy Machingauta, a 36-year-old resident of Queens Park in Bulawayo. Said prosecutor Hazel Siphiwe Sithole:
<blockquote>
On the 6th of November 2024 at around 10am, the complainant was admitted to Mpilo Hospital Post Natal and the accused person took her Samsung Galaxy A05 cellphone and went away.
The complainant made a police report leading to the arrest of the accused person, the total value stolen was US$100 and was recovered.
In the second count, on 6 November 2024 and at Mpilo Hospital Post Natal ward one, room five, Lizuba Nkosi Ngula unlawfully, intentionally and without permission or authority from Martha Luwe unlawfully took an Itel P36 cellphone knowing that Martha Luwe was entitled to it.
</blockquote>
In the third count, Ngula, on 8 November, is said to have stolen an O King cellphone from Shamiso Ndlovu (19) from Ndlovu homestead, Chief Sogwala in Lower Gweru at Mpilo Hospital Post Natal Ward One, Room Five.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A person named Lizuba Nkosi Ngula who works at Mpilo Hospital stole cellphones from sick patients. He was caught and sentenced to 12 months in jail. However, he only has to serve 9 months in prison and do community service for the remaining 3 months. Ngula stole phones from patients like Lucy Machingauta and Martha Luwe. The stolen phones were recovered, and Ngula was arrested. It is not right to steal from sick people, and Ngula's actions were wrong.

Mpilo Hospital Worker Jailed For Stealing Cellphones From Patients

A suspected thief who was fatally assaulted by his colleague in the wee hours of last Friday morning was reportedly found with several stolen cellphones which had been tucked in his socks.
The incident happened at a nightclub in Chikanga, according to a report by <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/cellphones-recovered-from-late-thiefs-socks/">The Manica Post</a>.
Acting spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Manicaland Province, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the death of McDonald Muparutsa (31) of New Chisamba, Sakubva, Mutare.
He said Muparutsa was fatally assaulted by his colleague, Lovemore Biggie Nyanzou (26) of Muchena section of the same suburb.
Nyanzou allegedly murdered his colleague after the latter refused to share the loot. Said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka:
<blockquote>
The incident occurred at Rio Night Club at Chikanga TM area in Mutare. On the fateful night, the two were drinking beer together and Nyanzou saw Muparutsa snatching a cellphone from a patron’s pocket and going outside the nightclub.
Nyanzou followed him and demanded a share of the loot. MacDonald refused to give him anything.
After that, Nyanzou head-butted Muparutsa. When Nyanzou saw that Muparutsa had collapsed, he ran away.
However, onlookers gave chase and apprehended him. When police attended the scene, they found Muparutsa’s body lying in a pool of blood and Nyanzou was arrested.
</blockquote>
A witness, Lawrence Zvamunongoda, told The Manica Post that several revellers who had lost their cellphones, in a bid to locate their devices, took turns to dial phone their numbers, only to hear the phones ringing from the late Muparutsa’s socks. Said Zvamunongoda:
<blockquote>
It was shocking to see cellphones being retrieved from the deceased person’s socks.
Following Muparutsa’s murder, police attended the scene. People who were enjoying themselves in other nightclubs around the area rushed to witness the incident.
Those who had lost their phones during that night, dialed their numbers using other people’s phones.
They heard the phones ringing from Muparutsa’s socks. I noticed five cellphones being recovered from the socks.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Stolen Phones Ring From Deceased Suspected Thief's Socks

A Chegutu man was mocked by a thief who had stolen his cellphone as he tried to track it.
Owen Dodo left his cellphone charging while bathing early last week but when he emerged from the bathroom, he couldn’t locate his Itel handset, valued at more than US$20.
Dodo then borrowed his wife’s cellphone so he could call his missing handset, and the person at the other end of the line told him openly that he was on his way to sell the device so that he could get his daily fix of illicit drugs.
He told <a href="https://newziana.co.zw/2023/11/17/cheeky-cell-phone-thief-mocks-victim/">New Ziana</a> that the thief later sent him mocking and derogatory messages through the stolen device. Said Dodo:
<blockquote>
It is outrageous that someone could steal my cell phone for the love of mutiriro.
Ndakatonzi ndanzwa butter nembavha iyoyo. Akati aitova munzira kunotengesa phone yangu kuti ambonwa zvake mutoriro. He promised to call me back.
As I see it, anofanira kunge ari munhu wepedyo pedyo because akatoti anoziva mafambiro angu nenguva dzandinosvika pamba ndichibva kubasa.
I was taunted, teased and mocked. Some of the language used is not suitable for the public.
</blockquote>
Dodo said he was not going to make any police report but would go to a traditional healer and ask for the thief to be “fixed”.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/11/18/president-mnangagwa-reverses-the-appointment-of-general-valerio-sibanda-to-zanu-pf-politburo/">Pindula News</a>

Cellphone Thief Mocks Victim

Five men teamed up to fatally assault a 16-year-old man accused of stealing a cellphone in Karoi last month, police have said.
The victim was attacked on 15 October and died on 1 November at Karoi District Hospital.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said they have arrested three of the suspects while the other two are still at large. Police said:
<blockquote>
Police in Karoi arrested Cephas Banda, Ian Murehwa and Langton Mapfura (21) in connection with a case of murder in which a 16-year-old juvenile was attacked on October 15, 2022, near Tambawadya Primary School, Chikangwe, after being accused of stealing a cellphone.
The victim died on November 1, 2022, on admission at Karoi District Hospital. The other two unknown suspects are on the run. Investigations are underway.
</blockquote>

16-year-old Man Killed Over Cellphone

Police officers were on Saturday pelted with stones after they arrested a suspected cellphone thief in Harare’s Central Business District.
The suspected robber reportedly fled with handcuffs while a police vehicle was damaged during the melee.
In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Publicity said:
<blockquote>Today around Corner George Silundika and First Street, Police arrested a suspected cellphone robber but were pelted with stones and other missiles leading to the suspect escaping with the cuffs. A police car was damaged and tear smoke was deployed. 2 suspects are now in custody.</blockquote>

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