A Bulawayo man has been arrested for allegedly gambling away US$10 000 of his mother’s savings.
The victim had reportedly spent more than a decade saving the money for a building project before her 22-year-old son allegedly stole the funds in the suburb of Nkulumane.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said McMillan Zimunhu, confessed to the offence following investigations.
Insp Msebele said Zimunhu’s mother, a 48-year-old self-employed woman, had been keeping the money at various points inside her house and last checked it in September 2025, when it amounted to US$10 300.
“During a period from 2013 to January 2026, Zimunhu’s mother, who is self-employed, raised the stated amount and she stashed it at different points in the house. She wanted to use the money for a building project,” said Insp Msebele.
“All her five children knew where she kept the money around the house. On January 19, 2026, she wanted to use the money but when she checked for it, she realised it was no longer there.”
Insp Msebele said a police report was subsequently filed, leading to investigations and interviews with the children.
“Thorough investigations and interviews were done on her children. It was established that her second son, McMillan Zimunhu, was the one who took the money,” she said.
Insp Msebele said Zimunhu admitted to stealing the money and using it on several occasions to gamble on a game known as Aviator, where he lost all the funds.
“He admitted to have used all her mother’s money on a gambling game called Aviator on several times and lost. The total value stolen is US$10,300 and nothing was recovered,” she said.
“We urge members of the public to avoid keeping large sums of money at their homes but use banks to safeguard their hard-earned cash.