The hairdresser who disguise as a female prostitute was arrested last year after he allegedly stole from a man in Mkoba 6 who had hired him home for the night but ran away before providing the services
By Richard Shumba
IN a mind-boggling case, a Gweru hairdresser who disguised himself as a woman and a prostitute, this week turned out to be the luckiest person alive when provincial Magistrate Miriam Banda warned, cautioned, and discharged when appeared facing charges of deliberately supplying false information to the public authority.
Praise Mpofu (22) who disguises himself as a female prostitute was arrested last year after he allegedly stole from a man in Mkoba 6 who had hired him home for the night but ran away before providing the services.
He was later arrested and remanded in custody at Gweru Young Offenders Prison where he stayed with young female inmates under the impression he was a girl.
When he appeared in court Mpofu pleaded with provincial magistrate Miriam Banda saying that he had acted in such a manner because he believed he was a woman.
“I identify myself as a female even though I was born a male, when I was arrested I wanted to be placed in a female and not male prison,”
He pleaded guilty to one count of deliberately supplying false information to public authority as defined in section 180 of the criminal law codification and reform act chapter 9.23.
Provincial magistrate Miriam Banda reiterated that the case was a rare scenario and uncommon.
“The case is unique as we have the accused Praise Mpofu who is male in terms of physiology and is a first offender and only pleaded guilty upon physical examination. You are therefore warned, cautioned, and discharged,” she said.
According to court papers, on 1 October 2021, at ZRP Gweru central charge office, Praise Mpofu deliberately supplied false information to Constable Cephas Ndlovu that she was a woman when she was being detained.
When he appeared in court on initial remand on his theft charges, Praise was remanded in custody and went to Shurugwi female prison. During the physical examination, Pamela Chiedza Nyawo, a nurse in charge discovered that he was not a woman.
Praise kept on insisting that he was a lady and was escorted to Shurugwi hospital for examination by a government medical officer.
Melodious Kavenga prosecuted
