In a bizarre turn of events that has captivated the city, a suspected burglar was discovered fast asleep inside a Gweru home after gaining entry through a kitchen window. The mysterious incident occurred last week in the Mtapa high-density suburb in Gweru.
Jealous Munsaka, a 28-year-old man from Kalonga Village under Chief Siabuwa in Binga, found himself at the centre of this unusual situation. According to homeowner Godknows Mudzingwa, the incident began around 2am on Thursday morning during a power outage. Mr. Mudzingwa, alone in his home, was startled by his dogs barking.
“I thought nothing of it, believing my gate was secure,” he recounted.
However, the early morning quiet was shattered at approximately 6am when Mr. Mudzingwa discovered Munsaka sprawled on his kitchen floor. Munsaka, adorned with traditional red beads, had apparently entered the house by scaling the perimeter fence and smashing a kitchen window. The unexpected discovery prompted a rapid response from neighbours, who quickly gathered and essentially performed a citizen’s arrest.
In an attempt to rouse the sleeping intruder, neighbours poured water on Munsaka. Upon waking, he reportedly explained that his friends had abandoned him at a local bar, leaving him with nowhere to go. This explanation elicited mixed reactions from the community; some expressed anger at the break-in while others sympathised with Munsaka’s apparent predicament.
Despite the shock of the situation, Mr. Mudzingwa chose a path of compassion.
“I felt it was important to show him some kindness, hence I chided fellow community members against beating the suspect,” he stated.
His response reflects a growing sentiment within communities struggling with safety concerns and the need for empathy in challenging circumstances.
Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident, emphasising the importance of respecting private property rights.
“If the intruder wanted a place to sleep he should have just presented his case to the owner of the place. This should have saved him from the inconveniences he is now going through,” Inspector Mahoko stated.
Inspector Mahoko also provided details of the initial police investigation. He explained that it remained unclear at what point in his attempted burglary Munsaka fell asleep.
“It is unclear how Munsaka fell asleep, or what stage he was at in his attempted burglary. The homeowners awoke at approximately 0600 hours and found him asleep. They woke him up and questioned him. Nothing appeared to have been stolen, and he seemed to be calm,” the Inspector explained.
Munsaka was subsequently taken to Mtapa police station, where a formal investigation was launched. He appeared in court charged with unlawful entry into premises with intent to steal.
