Church watchman and friend jailed for theft

Nkhotakota New Apostolic Church watchman Luke Simfukwe (26) and his friend Bernard Zimwanda (30) were on Wednesday convicted to two years and 18 months imprisonment respectively for stealing iron sheets at the church in Nkhotakota.According to the state prosecutor, sergeant Charles Mughogho, the convicts on January 04, 2016 broke into New Apostolic Church vestry and stole five iron sheets.Mughogho said the iron sheets, which were being kept after they had been blown off by heavy winds, were valued at K 11,000.“When the church members noticed the missing of iron sheets they instantly reported the matter to police who swiftly arrested Simfukwe the watchman and Ziwanda on theft charges,” said Mughogho.Simfukwe in mitigation told the court that he is a breadwinner and is keeping two orphans hence he should be considered.Despite Simfukwe’s mitigation, Nkhotakota First Grade Magistrate Fred Juma Chilowetsa went on to sentence Simfukwe and Zimwanda to 24 and 18 months imprisonment respectively.Theft by breaking into a building and committing a felony therein is contrary to section 311(1) of the penal code.Simfukwe hails from Mgomba village while Zimwanda is from Malasa village and both villages are in the area of Senior Chief Malengachanzi in Nkhotakota.