Man Who Stole Plough During Shutdown Protests Jailed 5 Years

Polite Weza (35) of Emakhandeni suburb whose video went viral on social media after he was caught pushing a plough stolen from a shop at Entumbane Shopping Complex during violent protests has been sentenced to five years in jail.

Weza was part of a mob that looted and burnt shops during last week’s violent protests organised by the MDC Alliance and civil society groups aligned to it. Weza was convicted on his own plea of guilty to public violence and theft by Bulawayo magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ncube. He will serve an effective four years after one year was suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.

The court heard that Weza stole an ox-drawn plough at OK Supermarket and a 20kg bag of maize seed. He also proceeded to other shops where he stole a plasma television set, radio speakers and a generator all valued at $2 920. The total value of stolen goods and property that Weza and his accomplices damaged is $143 187. Some of the stolen goods worth $1 500 were recovered following the arrest of Weza and his accomplices. Weza was positively identified by police after he was captured on video, which has been circulating on social media