A Zimbabwean journalist who was on an industrial attachment with the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services was arrested on Christmas Eve over the alleged theft of a laptop belonging to the Chipinge District Offices.
In a statement, Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said the suspect, Livingstone Mtetwa (28) of Gaza New Stands in Chipinge, had been on the run since May 2024.
Mtetwa is accused of stealing a laptop belonging to District Information Officer Zaine Dube while working as an intern at the ministry. The laptop was allegedly sold to a passerby in Chimoio, Mozambique.
Police said that after the alleged theft, Mtetwa fled to Mozambique, where he remained until his arrest last week. Said Chinyoka:
“Sometime in May 2024, police in Chipinge received a report on unlawful entry at the District Information Officer’s office, where Livingstone Mtetwa was identified as the suspect.
“Mtetwa was (then) employed by the same office as a journalism student on industrial attachment, and whilst investigations were in its infancy, he fled to an unknown destination and location.
Acting on a tip-off by an informant to track down the suspect during routine police patrols on 24 December 2025 (after a year and some months later), authorities received information to the effect that the suspect was in the area where they swiftly responded and successfully apprehended him (Mtetwa) at his known residence.
“Further investigations by our officers led Mtetwa to admit and reveal that he stole the laptop and sold it to an unknown passerby whom he met in Chimoio (Mozambique) whilst on the run.”
Inspector Chinyoka urged all citizens, including journalists, to uphold the law and respect other people’s property.
The suspect is expected to appear in court soon, and the laptop’s owner has been informed of the developments.
More: Bulawayo24.com
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