A SOLDIER based at the Zimbabwe School of Infantry in Mbalabala yesterday appeared in court facing charges of malicious damage to property and theft after he allegedly ran amok, stole some money and damaged a refrigerator at a pub after he clashed with the bar lady.
BY SILAS NKALA
Russell Tawanda Sibanda (30) was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Nyaradzo Ringisai who remanded him out of custody to September 27.
According to the court papers, the complainant in the matter is Philip Marange, a security guard employed at 747 Nightclub in Bulawayo.
The State alleges during the night of August 18 this year, Sibanda approached the bar lady, Ntandoyenkosi Mnkandla, wanting to buy beer using an ATM card.
It is alleged Sibanda swiped for beer worth $10 after Mnkandla had explained to him that there was no cash back and also that all deposits for bottles were to be paid for in cash only.
It is the State case that after Sibanda had completed his transaction, he changed his mind and demanded beer, whose bottles required deposit payment.
He allegedly ordered Mnkandla to deduct the money through swiping, but she refused.
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The State alleges Sibanda then started poking the woman on the forehead demanding a reimbursement.
Sibanda then allegedly grabbed a 10-litre plastic bucket full of punch beer and splashed it on the floor demanding his cash back.
The State further alleges Sibanda went out and later returned with a brick, which he threw at the bar lady but missed her. The brick hit a refrigerator shattering its glass door.
Sibanda allegedly snatched the ATM swipe machine and threatened to take it away with him, but Marange offered him a $10 note to cool him down.
The State alleges Sibanda then threw the ATM swipe machine to the ground, damaging it in the process and fled with Marange’s money.
