Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – A Bulawayo woman, Nothando Banana (35), has been sentenced to an effective six years in prison after she was found guilty of stealing US24,000(approximatelyR445,000)fromherworkplaceduringanarmedrobbery.
Banana,whohadbeenoutonUS100 (approximately R1,850) bail, was convicted of theft of trust property.
The incident occurred on October 15, 2024, when armed robbers stormed her workplace. Prosecutors revealed that Banana exploited the chaos of the violent robbery to commit her own crime.
State prosecutor Ms. Concilia Ncube told the court that armed robbers, brandishing pistols and a garden pick, stole US32,500(approximatelyR603,000)fromthepremises.However,investigationslateruncoveredthatBananahadalsotakenanadditionalUS24,400 (approximately R453,000) from the safe amidst the confusion.
“The accused initially claimed that all the missing funds were stolen by the robbers,” Ms. Ncube stated. “But further scrutiny of surveillance footage and financial records exposed her actions.”
The court heard that Banana made deliberate attempts to cover up her theft by suggesting the entire missing amount was stolen by the armed gang. However, Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr. Joseph Mabeza was not swayed by her defense.
In sentencing her, Magistrate Mabeza remarked, “This was a calculated act. She took advantage of a serious and dangerous situation to commit theft. It was a gross breach of trust.”
Banana was sentenced to six years behind bars without the option of a fine, with no portion of the sentence suspended.
Banana had been on bail since her arrest shortly after the incident in 2024. Her conviction followed a full trial that revealed discrepancies in the company’s accounts and video footage showing her accessing the funds separately from the actual robbery.
The court highlighted that her actions not only betrayed her employer but also hindered police investigations into the original armed robbery.
Banana will serve her sentence at Mlondolozi Prison in Bulawayo.
“The law must be seen to act against those who abuse trust, especially during emergencies,” the prosecutor concluded.
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