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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Former detective Gilbert Zvaita was yesterday sentenced to three-and-a-half  years in prison for deliberating using Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Rita Makarau’s name to cover up a car theft. Zvaita (41) acquired a vehicle registration book and registration numbers belonging to Justice Makarau which he affixed to a stolen car belonging to Mr Tichaona Zvishiri.

He pleaded not guilty to two counts of vehicle theft and unlawful entry into premises, but magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya acquitted him on unlawful entry charges and convicted him on the theft charges.

In passing sentence, Mr Mujaya considered that a motor vehicle was a valuable asset despite that there were now many cars in the country.
“What aggravated the offence is that you deliberately used Makarau’s name to make it easy in covering up the theft,” he said. “It was your plan to use big names to make it hard for Zvishiri to recover his vehicle.”

Zvaita was sentenced to five years and one year and six months were set aside for four years on condition that he did not commit a similar crime.

In mitigation, Zvaita regretted any disrespect cast on Justice Makarau’s good name.
“State is to blame for dragging Justice Makarau’s name to court,” he said. “It was not my intention to drag her name in mud water.”
Zvaita said he was a first offender, married with four children and a breadwinner realising about US$400 per month from processing vehicle registrations.

“It is this business of processing vehicle registration that has landed me in trouble,” he said. “Through the folly of my judgment, I have furthered the interest of others.”

Zvaita was once stationed at Vehicle Theft Squad during his 12 years of service as a police officer. It emerged in court that Justice Makarau’s registration number plates and duplicate registration book were obtained by Zvaita after he lied to Central Vehicle Registry officials that he was sent by her.