By Patience Gondo
TWO friends, Reward Mashavire and Evidence Moyo have appeared before Beitbridge Magistrate Brenda Kachepa facing charges of unlawful entry and theft from a local barbershop.
The duo allegedly broke into the shop and stole various items, including clothes, a pair of Adidas slides and seven pre-owned hair clippers.
The stolen property was later reportedly found in their possession by members of the community.
Mashavire denied the charges, claiming the items were his personal belongings.
He told the court that he had acquired the hair clippers through a barter deal with a man only identified as Baba Monica, exchanging four speakers worth R600 for the clippers.
Moyo pleaded not guilty and distanced himself from the alleged crime.
In his defence, he told the court , he was unaware of any stolen goods and was merely accompanying Mashavire to Mfelandawonye to visit his girlfriend.
“I didn’t know what was in the bag Mashavire was carrying. I was just caught up in this situation,” he said.
Investigating officer Misheck Mugabe testified , the barbershop door had been broken into using an iron bar, and that stolen items were recovered shortly after.
Prosecutor Olivia Chomutinya questioned the legitimacy of Mashavire’s barter claim, noting that the seven clippers were worth approximately R7,000 , far more than the four speakers reportedly traded.
Magistrate Kachepa remanded the two accused to October 10 for judgment.