Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]
TWO Bulawayo men have each been sentenced to 10 months in prison for stealing 11 road-runner chickens from a fowl run, on two separate occasions.
Vuyisile Thebe (20) and Sindisani Sibanda (18), both from Hope Fountain, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Ms Vimbai Chirayi, facing charges of stock theft.
The pair was convicted on two counts.
Thebe will serve nine months effectively after one month of his sentence was suspended on condition that he restitutes Mr Levity Moyo for his loss by September 30.
Sibanda had six months of his sentence suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years. A further month was suspended on condition that he pays restitution to the complainant.
The remaining three months were converted to 210 hours of community service.
The sentences differed due to Thebe’s prior conviction for a similar offence in November last year, which disqualified him from community service.
Prosecuting, Mr Mehluli Ndlovu told the court that on September 6, 2025, the accused persons went to Mr Moyo’s residence at Tennyson Hlabangana High School, opened the fowl run, and stole seven road-runner chickens. They left the premises unnoticed.
“The value of the stolen chickens was US$56, and nothing was recovered,” said Mr Ndlovu.
The court also heard that on September 13, the duo returned to the same residence, entered the fowl run, and stole four more chickens.
“A police report was filed, and the accused persons were arrested. Two dead road-runner chickens were found at the second accused’s residence,” Mr Ndlovu said.
The value of the second theft was US$34 and again, nothing was recovered.
