adminElizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
FOUR suspected stock thieves from Chiundura have been arrested for allegedly stealing six head of cattle which they slaughtered and sold to a butchery in Gweru. Edmore Kamba, 21, Tapiwa Gwedzai, 29, Kutsirai Kolwani, 25, and Crowns Gwedzai, 23, all from Matiza Village under Chief Gambiza in Chiundura appeared on initial remand before Gweru Magistrate, Judith Taruvinga, facing six counts of stocktheft.
A fifth suspect, Desmond Ngwengwe, is on the run.
The four were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to March 4 for trial.
Magistrate Taruvinga advised them to seek the consent of prosecutors to be granted bail.
Prosecuting, Lloyd Mavhisa, said the four stole the cattle between September last year and February 14 this year.
The gang was arrested on Tuesday last week, but one of them managed to escape.
Mavhisa said sometime in September last year, the four together with Ngwengwe went to Kurimakwakanaka village in Chiundura and stole an ox.
They allegedly slaughtered it, leaving behind its hide and horns, and sold the meat at a butchery in Ascot Suburb, Gweru.
“On the second count, the four men and Ngwengwe who is still at large, using the same modus operandi, stole an ox in Mavheni Village and took the meat and sold it to the same butchery in Gweru,” he said.
“Again on December 16 last year, they proceeded to Kurimakwakanaka Village in Chiundura and stole an ox and sold it to the butchery.”
This year on February 14, the suspected thieves allegedly went to Mavheni Village again in Chiundura and stole three head of cattle.
They allegedly slaughtered them and sold the meat to the same butchery in Ascot suburb, Gweru.
The four were arrested on Tuesday after police were tipped off by members of the public on the gang’s criminal activities.
Online Reporter