Prince Chese
A 41-year-old Beitbridge man appeared before the Magistrates’ Court on 19 January, where he pleaded guilty to malicious damage to property after destroying cooking utensils belonging to a local food vendor during a drunken altercation.
Procecutor Tawanda Chigavazira told the court that Peter Smango, of 8695 Mashavire Area, damaged property belonging to Patricia Njelele, a food vendor who sells cooked meals near her homestead at Stand 1902 SDP, Beitbridge.
Chigavazira said, the incident occurred on 19 December when Smango, who was drunk, engaged in a fight with two customers who were eating at Njelele’s food outlet.
During the confrontation, Smango damaged two cooking pots, one containing beef and the other sadza, with the total value of the loss estimated at R800.
The court heard that Smango is a regular customer at the food outlet, as it is located close to a house-building site where he works. After committing the offence, he returned to the construction site, prompting the complainant to report the matter to the police.
Police officers attended the scene and subsequently arrested Smango.
Presiding Magistrate Brenda Kachepa remanded the accused in custody, as he awaits sentence set for Wednesday, 21 January