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Senior Court Reporter
The old adage “one good turn deserves another” did not apply to a Chinamhora man who lost his car to an 18-year-old hitch-hiker he had offered a lift.
It is alleged that James Chidyandunge appeared to be stranded whereupon Champion Murugweni gave him a lift.
Along the way, Murugweni excused himself and rushed to a nearby bush to relieve himself, leaving Chidyandunge in the car.

Upon his return, he found the vehicle gone.

Chidyandunge on Tuesday appeared before Mr Milton Serima facing charges of theft of a motor vehicle and was remanded in custody to September 29.
Mr Serima advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.

Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa told the court that on April 16, Murugweni after noticing that his car had been stolen made a report at Zimbiru Police Post.

Investigations revealed that Chidyandunge had committed similar offences in Domboshava before relocating to Kwekwe where he is facing numerous counts of car theft.

Murugweni’s car was impounded by the Vehicle Inspection Department in Kwekwe after Chidyandunge was stopped while using it as a taxi and without a driver’s licence.

After it was impounded, Chidyandunge stole another vehicle from one Godfrey Maurosi in Kwekwe, which he drove to Musana area.

Police from CID Murehwa received information of his whereabouts and managed to arrest him.

In a related matter, a 19-year-old kombi driver from Madziva was arrested on allegations of stealing a Toyota Hiace from a car park in Glen View, Harare.

Tonderai Chihuri appeared before the same magistrate charged with theft of a motor vehicle.

He was also remanded in custody to September 29 due to the seriousness of the offence.

On the issue of bail, Chihuri was asked to approach the higher court.

Allegations are that on September 2, Moses Kambanje parked his car at Streamdale car park in Glen View 1 for overnight safe keeping.

It is the State’s case that Chihuri took advantage of the sleeping guards and stole the vehicle.

The court heard that he began to use the vehicle as a commuter omnibus plying the Mount Darwin-Mukumbura route.

On September 13 police officers from ZRP Dotito received a tip-off that he was in their area and arrested him at Mukumbura Business Centre.