adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A GWANDA ex-convict who was released a year ago after serving nine years for stock theft has been thrown back into jail for stealing nine goats.
Innocent Ndlovu, 32, of Selonga area was yesterday convicted on his own plea of guilty by Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe.
Ndlovu was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment for stealing nine goats belonging to a fellow villager Leafan Dube, 56.
Nazombe suspended 12 months of the sentence on condition that he compensated Dube $450 through the Gwanda clerk of court on or before September 1 this year.
Each goat had a value of $50 and failure to pay the compensation, Ndlovu will serve an effective 36 months.
The court heard that Ndlovu stole nine goats from a grazing area in Selonga, slaughtered four of them and sold the meat in Spitzkop, Gwanda Town.
The remaining five goats went astray after he abandoned them.
Police arrested Ndlovu following a tip off.
“I committed the offence because I wanted to raise money to buy food for my children since I am not employed. I have eight-month-old twins but the problem is that the other one is not well and does not breastfeed so I have to buy milk which has been a challenge for me.
“Your worship, I beg for your forgiveness. If I am incarcerated, I may find my ill child dead,” said Ndlovu adding that he was prepared to compensate his fellow villager.
Court records show that on October 6, 2005, Ndlovu was convicted and jailed for stock theft, but the sentence could not be established immediately.
On January 11, 2006, he was again sentenced to nine years for stock theft by the High Court and he was released in November 2012.
However, in his submissions, prosecutor Mncedisi Dube said Ndlovu deserved to be sent back to prison as he had failed to repent.
“It is unfortunate that the accused person steals again a year after release. He is not a proper candidate for a fine or community service.
“The best place for him is to go back to prison. Maybe this time he might reform,” said Dube.
Magistrate Nazombe lambasted Ndlovu and said the community needs to be protected from people like him who don’t want to see other people’s livestock grazing.
derick.khumalo