Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
TWO men accused of stealing and selling three beasts for US$1 070 have appeared in court.
Ngonidzashe Chiweshe (49) and Bhekimpilo Mlilo (39) appeared on Monday before Bulawayo provincial resident magistrate, Mr Themba Chimiso, charged with stock theft.
They were advised of their legal right to seek the services of a lawyer at their own cost and to apply for bail at the Bulawayo High Court.
Prosecuting, Ms Josiphine Gurazhira told the court that the complainant is Nebros Sibanda (72).
On 10 September this month, she said, the accused persons went to Spring Farm in Inyathi where the complainant’s beasts had strayed.
“The accused persons then drove the complainant’s beasts: a hornless brown cow branded B4N1 S2 earmarked with two ‘V’ cuts on the lower side of the right ear, one unbranded brown bull with horns and no earmarks, and one unbranded brown and black cow with no earmarks,” said Ms Gurazhira.
The court heard that the accused persons then sold the beasts to one Qondani Mathe for US$1 070.
The matter came to light when the accused persons presented a false stock card to a police officer who was conducting a stock clearance, leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
Ms Gurazhira told the court that the recovered beasts and a false stock card were seized and will be produced in court as exhibits.
The pair were remanded in custody until tomorrow.
In an unrelated matter, on 19 September at around 6PM, the accused person Theophilos Khumalo slaughtered the complainant’s heifer and took the carcass to Gold Fly Mine in Insiza where he sold it.
Ms Gurazhira told the court that the matter came to light when the accused was spotted selling the meat by one of the villagers who alerted the complainant. The complainant then filed a report with the police.
The scene was attended, leading to the arrest of the accused person and the recovery of the skin, hides and some meat. The complainant managed to identify his stolen heifer through earmarks.
The value of the stolen property is US$700 and nothing was recovered. Khumalo was remanded in custody until tomorrow.
