Binga Man Jailed Eight Months for Squandering US$3,000 Airtime Money
A 27-year-old Binga man has been jailed for eight months after blowing more than US$2,600 that had been entrusted to him to buy airtime recharge cards for resale.
Kelvin Muzamba appeared before Binga Magistrates’ Court facing charges of theft of trust property.
He was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, of which eight months were set aside on condition of good behavior.
A further eight months were suspended on the condition that he restitutes US$2,640 to the complainant by November 30, 2025.
The court heard that sometime between July and August 2025, Muzamba received the money from Birthman Misi at Binga Centre with clear instructions to purchase airtime cards for resale.
Instead, Muzamba converted the cash to personal use.
The matter only came to light when Misi demanded his money back after realizing no airtime had been purchased.
Muzamba failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, leading to his arrest.
According to NewZimbabwe, the court noted that the full amount of US$2,640 had been lost and nothing was recovered.
Magistrates stressed the need to protect the public against cases of theft of trust property, particularly in rural communities where such offences are becoming increasingly common.
