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Sukulwenkosi Dube- Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
TWO Mangwe teenagers stole a neighbour’s donkey, slaughtered it and went on to eat the meat, a court has heard.
Njabulo Maphosa (19) and Hloniphani Mpofu (18) both of Mayobodo area told Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa that they resorted to eating the donkey meat as they were hungry.
They both pleaded guilty to stocktheft charges. They were each sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and six months were suspended on condition that they do not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Six months were further suspended on condition that they each perform 210 hours of community service at Mathokonyika Primary School.
“We stole the donkey Your Worship as we wanted to eat it. We killed it and cooked the intestines which we then ate in the bushes.
“We hid the meat in a bushy area and we were set to collect it the following day but we were arrested before we could do that. I beg your pardon Your Worship but we were desperate for food,’’ said Maphosa.
Mpofu said he was unemployed and it was not the first time that they had eaten donkey meat.
Prosecuting, Mrs Rose Sibanda said the two teenagers stole a donkey belonging to Mr Austin Ncube on October 14.
She said they slaughtered it and ate the meat.
“Maphosa and Mpofu took the meat and cooked some of it and left some of the meat hidden in the bushes.
“The matter came to light after a villager, Mr Alfred Nyathi, saw vultures flying around.
“He went to inspect and found the carcass of a donkey hidden in the bushes,’’ she said. — @DubeMatutu.
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Bongani Ndlovu