21-year-old cattle rustler jailed 36 years

Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent

A 21-year-old Kwekwe man, who was part of a cattle rustling gang that had terrorised farmers in and around Kwekwe, has been slapped with a 36-year jail term by a Kwekwe court.

Ngonidzashe Gonye of 4D Link Road, Msasa Park in Kwekwe, was convicted after a full trial when he appeared in court facing six counts of stock theft.

Gonye together with Simbarashe Gonye, Isheunesu Gonye, Luckmore Zhandaire and Simbarashe Mugutsi who are still on the run, would steal livestock in nearby farms and slaughter them before selling the meat to unsuspecting members of the public and butcheries.

Magistrate Ms Samukeliso Gumbo convicted Gonye on five counts and each count attracted an effective nine-year prison sentence.

Gonye was acquitted on count one after the complainant failed to turn up.

Count five which he was jointly charged with Brian Dube is running concurrently with count three leaving an effective 36-year jail term.

Brian Dube was acquitted for lack of evidence.

Representing the State’s case, Ms Ethel Bhumure told the court that on count one, on 21 April last year around midnight, Gonye together with his accomplices who are on the run, went to Plot 46 Roseline Farm in Kwekwe and stole a bull from the kraal and drove it to a nearby bushy area.

They slaughtered the bull and went away with the carcass leaving behind intestines and the head.

In another count on 9 May the same year, they used the same modus operandi and slaughtered two oxen at Plot 31 Woodridge Farm just outside Kwekwe.

On 23 November, they stole a  cow which they again slaughtered and took away the meat.

Plot 16 Woodlands, Mbembeswane was their next target where they stole two oxen and slaughtered them.

However, they ran out of luck when they went to Redlands Farm grazing lands and drove away three cattle which they later slaughtered in a bushy area near Mbizo 22.

The court heard that they were busted when police received a tip-off to the effect that a truck driven by Ian Makamba had been spotted parked in a bushy area at night near Mbizo 22 turn-off where the remains of the cattle were discovered.

Investigations by police led to the arrest of Makamba and further investigations led to the arrest of Gonye while a manhunt has been launched for his accomplices.