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The Herald, October 19, 1994

HAVING no money for bus fare, but wanting to go home to Gokwe, Phibion Mavhondo (29), drove in broad daylight, a $600 000 bus, he found parked with its engine running at Mbare bus terminus and is now being tried for theft.

He first pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle when he appeared before regional magistrate Ms Jacqueline Pratt in Harare yesterday, but when he said he had no intention to permanently deprive the owner of the Kukura Kurerwa bus, the magistrate altered his plea to one of not guilty.

Jointly charged with Mavhondo is Christopher Dube (26), who claims he was picked up along Bulawayo Road and offered a lift to Gokwe and had no idea the bus was stolen.

Mavhondo told the court that after having no bus fare he went to Mbare terminus alone where he schemed to steal a bus.

He found the ignition keys in and saw there was enough fuel to take him to Gokwe. His intention was, however, to leave the bus with the keys near his destination to be recovered by its owner.

Mr Lawrence Phiri for the State told the court that on May 2 this year the shunting driver of Kukura Kurerwa bus company left his bus parked at the Mbare bus terminus with the engine running and the ignition keys on.

Mavhondo and Dube then got into the bus and Mavhondo, who was once a driver for the company, drove the bus.

Later that evening he parked at Masoro in Gokwe and went to visit his girlfriend, leaving Dube in the bus.

Around midnight the owner of the bus, who with two others was tracking down the vehicle, found the bus parked and arrested Dube.

Upon his arrest Dube led the crew to Mavhondo who was also arrested. At the time of the recovery the bus’ value had dropped $3 430 to $596 570 because of damage owing to the long drive and because the spare wheel was missing.

Dube denied the charge submitting that he was a mere passenger who knew nothing pertaining to the theft of the bus.

He told the court that he was only given a lift after Mavhondo specifically said he wanted one passenger only going to Gokwe. This was confirmed by Mavhondo in his evidence.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• Stealing is a crime and no reason can ever justify committing such an act. The man in the story could have asked for a ride instead of stealing a bus.
• Desperation can lead people to do stupid or foolish acts, which they would  later regret.
• When you are caught up in some situation, it is important to do a bit of self-introspection. Dube became Mavhondo’s accomplice because he did not take time to study the situation and also assess the tell-tell signs, which could have made him realise that something seriously wrong.