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Behind the walls with Givemore Muzariri
STARBRITE 2017 semifinalist who made a name for himself with his unique dances is back in prison after he was caught in possession of stolen solar panels with a total value of US$2 800.
B-Metro news last week visited Bulawayo prison and caught up with Lovemore Mashamba also known as Poposhi, who said a neighbour sold him stolen property while he was in the process is starting a horticulture project.
“I know that a lot of people, who are going to read my story are going to judge me but let me take this opportunity to say I am not a habitual criminal but it was unfortunate that I was found on the wrong side of the law as I was trying to start my own horticulture project.
“Soon after completing my first two year sentence in prison I told myself that it was high time I start my own project that would help me sustain my family and even the community, where I was come from. This was because I wanted to avoid breaking into people homes as a way of sustaining myself.
“The push factor that I had whilst in prison later saw me joining the artisanal mining sector and from my operations in the field, I was able to acquire my own residential stand in Inyathi with the intention to start my own horticulture project there,” he said.
Mashamba said in procuring equipment required it was unfortunate that he bought 14 stolen solar panels and a submersible pump that later saw him being brought back to prison.
“As I was looking around for the electrical equipment required to pump water from the borehole, I was approached by one of my neighbours, who told me that he was selling solar panels and a submersible pump at a reasonable price of US$2 800.
“The amount he charged was far below what was being charged in different shops so this left me with no option but to take the package with a deposit of US$800. I was later given time to pay the outstanding amount over a period of three months,” he said.
The dancer said soon after paying the deposit the supplier delivered his consignment at his doorstep and the members of the public later tipped members of Zimbabwe Republic Police to investigate the issue as they suspected that the goods had been stolen.
“When I got these goods, I never suspected that they had been stolen and I even told the supplier to deliver them in the afternoon as I had nothing to fear.
“The police officer came the very same day in the evening to search my house but with confidence I demanded a warrant of search of which they could not produce but went ahead and searched recovering the stolen items,” he said.
Mashamba said soon after recovering the stolen items police officers took him to a nearby police station, where he was kept in detention as the matter was still being investigated before it could be taken to courts for finalisation.
“When we got to court, I told the magistrate that I had bought the gadgets from a neighbour but there was no receipt to prove that transaction had taken place.
“The magistrate could not believe my story as the supplier also distanced himself from the case. This left the court officials with no option but to find me guilty and I was sentenced to 24 months in prison on charges of unlawful entry and theft,” he said.
The dancer said soon after sentencing and conviction he was sent to Bulawayo Prison to immediately start serving his sentence as he had proved that he was not fit to be in the community.
“When I got to prison at first l was really stressed as I felt betrayed by my neighbour, who was not honest enough to tell me that he was selling stolen property.
“To make matters worse, when I told the court officials that I had bought these items they never listened to my story instead they agreed to send me to prison. As we speak the actual thief is walking in the streets scot free,” he said.
Mashamba said his coming to prison for the second time has turned to be more of an eyeopener that one can be equipped with different skills but as long as that person does not have capital he or she is bound to reoffend.
“Whilst in prison we are preaching the gospel of rehabilitation and for sure its a noble idea but that process for it to be complete one should be supported financially to avoid reoffending.
“In my case if I had managed to get capital to start the project that I had in mind I don’t think we would be talking about this issue instead we would be focusing on my development,” he said.
The dancer challenged Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) management to partner with different orginisations that can chip in and assist inmates to establish themselves soon after completing their sentences.
“As an inmate I am appealing to the management of ZPCS to partner with organisations willing to assist inmates financially to start their own projects that would in return help all of us in different ways.
“I am talking from experience and I am happy that I am using this opportunity to share my experience when in comes to rehabilitation of inmates and its short comings,” he ended.
Online Reporter
