HARARE - A 21-YEAR-old Harare vendor has been spared a jail term after he was found putting on an army uniform, intending to deceive and impress his girlfriend.

Harare magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda yesterday fined Givemore Hwata, after convicting him on his plea of guilty on impersonation charges.

Magistrate Chibanda fined Hwata $50, failure of which he will spent 30 days in prison. A further two months were wholly suspended on condition Hwata does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
 
Chibanda also ordered that the uniform, Hwata was found putting on, be given back to the owner Clifford Matibiri.

Hwata yesterday told the court that he committed the offence out of ignorance. Hwata who is married left the court in stitches after he said that he committed the crime trying to impress another woman.

“I committed the offence because I wanted to impress my girlfriend,” said Hwata.

Asked on whether he managed to impress his girlfriend, Hwata said: “I did not manage to impress because I was caught before I even met her.”

Prosecutor Ressie Nyamombe told the court how Hwata was found by Themba Ngwenya donning the army uniform at Market Square in Harare on Wednesday.