Faith Ndou
MASVINGO-A cheeky prayer warrior has been convicted for stealing a cellphone from a hospital patient he was praying for.
A 53 year old Masvingo man has been sentenced to three months in jail after he stole a cellphone from a patient who was admitted at Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
Regis Svondo of Village Mhike, Gokomere, appeared before Magistrate Arafat Kozanayi at the Masvingo Magistrates Court today where he was convicted of theft as defined in Section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
The court heard that on the 30th of January 2026, Svondo went to Masvingo Provincial Hospital where the complainant Tungamirai Jiri was admitted. Svondo allegedly approached Jiri’s hospital bed under the guise of praying for him.
Prosecutor Munyaradzi Mavhondo told the court that Svondo took advantage of the fact that the complainant was asleep and stole a Tecno Honour cellphone valued at US$200. He then left the ward unnoticed.
However, another patient who was admitted in the next bed witnessed the accused taking the cellphone and later informed the complainant upon waking up.
The complainant reported the incident to his sister, Martha Chinyama who then filed a police report at Masvingo Central Police Station. This led to the arrest of Svondo and the recovery of the stolen cellphone.
The court noted that the accused had no right to take the property and that his actions were a clear abuse of trust especially in a hospital setting.
Svondo was sentenced to five months imprisonment, with two months suspended on condition of good behaviour for a period of three years. He will therefore serve an effective three months in jail.
