The Herald, February 2, 1980 

A SALISBURY man who was given $740 by his employer and told to bank $720 and get $20 change, converted the money to his own use, Salisbury Magistrates Court heard yesterday. 

To cover this up, the court was told, Dickson Munengwa Samuriwo (27) of Kambuzuma, made up what the magistrate, Mr M Brown, called a “preposterous story” about how he had been walking along Manica Road when three men called him into a sanitary lane and robbed him. 

Samuriwo, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, of which four months were conditionally suspended for five years. 

Mr Isaac Benatar, prosecuting, led evidence that Samuriwo was given the money at 9 am. 

When he had not returned by noon, the employer telephoned the bank and discovered that the money had not been banked.  

Samuriwo returned the next day and told his story about the robbery. Mr Benatar also produced a statement made by Samuriwo to the police, but which he challenged in court.  

In the statement Samuriwo said: “I admit the charge. I used the money because of my problems, which are many.  

“I am sorry, Satan led me to evil life. I will never do this again, this is my first and last. May God bless me.” 

Attached to the statement were details of how Samuriwo had used the money to buy a goat, pay debts, buy pictures, give to friends, and to hire taxi to go around Salisbury buying beer for friends. 

Lessons for today 

Taking what does not belong to you and converting it to own use is stealing, which is a punishable offence that can land one in prison. 

When one commits an offence he or she needs to own up to their mistakes instead of blaming them on someone or something like the man in the story who tried to blame his actions on Satan. 

One should not use their problems as a reason for doing something wrong instead they should strive to find solutions that do not lend them in more problems.

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