Recently Pardoned Convict Arrested for Vehicle Theft, House Break-ins
Benjamin Manyangadze, 20, was arrested in Murombedzi after a police chase involving a stolen Peugeot. The suspect had been released from prison just 14 days prior under a presidential amnesty.
Delicious Mathuthu 
Murombedzi - Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have apprehended a 20-year-old serial offender just two weeks after his release from prison, following a high-speed chase after vehicle theft and housebreaking spree that spanned from Redcliff in the Midlands to Mashonaland West.
The suspect, Benjamin Manyangadze of Ruwa, was intercepted by detectives at Murombedzi Business Centre on Monday afternoon.
According to Midlands Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, Manyangadze had been released from Marondera Prison on March 2, 2026, under a presidential amnesty program after serving time for six counts of unlawful entry and theft.
The recent string of offenses allegedly began on March 11 in Redcliff, near Kwekwe, where Manyangadze is accused of breaking into the residence of Tawanda Godfrey Magure.
Police reports indicate that the suspect gained entry while the homeowner was away, stealing US$1,800 in cash, a Techno mobile phone and the keys to a Peugeot motor vehicle.
The suspect then allegedly used the keys to steal the vehicle from the yard.
"On 16 March 2026, Detectives spotted the stolen motor vehicle being driven along the Chinhoyi-Chegutu road," Inspector Mahoko said, "they roped in ZRP Murombedzi to assist, resulting in the motor vehicle being intercepted at Murombedzi Business Centre."
Following the arrest, police recovered the stolen Peugeot and the mobile phone.
While the total value of the stolen property was pegged at US$9,920, the recovered items are valued at approximately US$7,500.
Manyangadze is scheduled to appear in court today, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
He faces charges of unlawful entry and theft of a motor vehicle as defined under Sections 131 and 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The arrest of a recently amnestied prisoner highlights the ongoing debate within Zimbabwe’s criminal justice system regarding recidivism and the integration of former inmates.
The Presidential Amnesty is a constitutional provision often utilised to alleviate extreme overcrowding in the nation’s prison facilities, which frequently operate well over their intended capacity.
Under the 2024 and 2025 amnesties, thousands of non-violent offenders were released based on good behavior or time served.
Legally, Section 131 (Unlawful Entry) and Section 113 (Theft) of the "Code" carry significant prison sentences, particularly for repeat offenders.
