Daring villagers steal AK47 from cop

By Fungai Lupande

Two daring Gokwe men who travelled all the way to Harare to steal an AK47 rifle from a police officer at the Malawian Embassy four years ago appeared in court yesterday facing charges of theft.

Life Shoko (25) and Jimson Sibanda (47) appeared before magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma who remanded them in custody to September 26.

Prosecutor Ms Sharon Mashavira alleged that Shoko of Kambajo village and Sibanda of Muntuntuli village both under Chief Simchembo committed the crime on January 17, 2009.

On that day, the pair went to Malawi Embassy at number 11 Dutchie Road Belgravia in Harare where Constable Mayenzwa was on duty armed with an AK47 serial number 051843. They allegedly stole the rifle and went away and a report of a stolen gun was made at Avondale Police Station.

Efforts to find the rifle were fruitless until September 5 this year when the two were found in possession of the gun at the 14-kilometre peg along Gokwe-Siyabuwa Road.