A 24-year-old domestic worker has been convicted and sentenced to prison for stealing cash and household items from her employer, Ms Marian Chiwenga, before fleeing the residence in a calculated attempt to evade justice.
The accused, Mazvita Njanike Kapfumvuti, appeared before Mutare magistrate Ms Perseverance Makala, who found her guilty of theft under Section 113 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. Kapfumvuti was sentenced to 18 months behind bars. However, in a move aimed at giving her a chance to make amends, six months of her sentence were suspended on the condition that she pays restitution. An additional six months were suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within the next five years. As a result, she will serve an effective six-month jail term.
The court heard that on January 15, while employed as a live-in maid by Ms Chiwenga, Kapfumvuti stole cash amounting to US$500 and R2,000 from her employer’s household. The incident was presented in court by State prosecutor Ms Deliwe Masibera, who detailed how the theft unfolded and how the suspect tried to cover her tracks.
“Upon being confronted about the missing money, Kapfumvuti initially denied taking it,” said Ms Masibera. “However, after further questioning, she confessed and claimed that she had returned the cash. Despite this claim, only R300 was recovered from her.”
The matter took a more serious turn later that same morning. Around 10 a.m., Ms Chiwenga discovered that Kapfumvuti had vanished from the home, taking with her a significant number of items belonging to the household. Among the stolen goods were a suitcase, a travel bag, a pair of skin jeans, sandals, two skirts, two skin tights, two top blouses, two baby blankets, two school uniforms, four blankets, four pairs of trousers, and four curtains.
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The disappearance sparked a police search, but Kapfumvuti managed to elude capture for several months. It was not until May 25 that a breakthrough occurred when Ms Chiwenga received a tip-off regarding Kapfumvuti’s whereabouts. She promptly informed the police, who acted on the information and successfully arrested the fugitive.
During her arrest, some of the stolen items were recovered. According to Ms Masibera, police were able to retrieve the suitcase, travel bag, a pair of skin jeans, sandals, two skirts, and two top blouses from Kapfumvuti’s possession. However, the rest of the goods — including much of the cash and other clothing items — remain unrecovered.
The total value of the stolen items was estimated at US$500, R2,000 in cash, and household goods worth approximately US$333. Despite efforts to recover the stolen property, only R300 and items valued at about US$35 were found, leaving a significant portion of the losses unrecovered.
In sentencing Kapfumvuti, Magistrate Makala considered the seriousness of the offence and the breach of trust involved. Domestic workers are expected to uphold the highest standards of honesty, given their close proximity to the lives and property of their employers. The court noted that Chiwenga maid had taken advantage of this trust, not only by stealing but also by fleeing and attempting to avoid accountability.
Magistrate Makala also weighed Kapfumvuti’s partial confession and cooperation with law enforcement at the time of her arrest, which factored into the court’s decision to partially suspend the sentence. However, the judge made it clear that theft, particularly involving significant sums and multiple household items, cannot go unpunished.
The case serves as a stern warning to others in positions of domestic employment to resist the temptation to abuse their employers’ trust. It also highlights the importance of timely reporting and cooperation with law enforcement, which was instrumental in securing the arrest and conviction of the accused.
Efforts are now underway to ensure that restitution is made and that the outstanding value of the stolen goods is addressed through the appropriate legal processes.
Chiwenga maid will begin serving her six-month custodial sentence immediately, while authorities monitor her progress on the restitution condition to determine whether the suspended portion of her sentence will remain inactive.
Source- ZimEye
