Online Reporter
Peter Matika [email protected]
A 43-year-old Bulawayo man has been arrested after allegedly stealing and slaughtering cattle in Matobo before attempting to transport the meat into the city for disposal.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the arrest of Mkhululi Mpofu of Nketa 9 in connection with a stock theft case that occurred in Matobo on Saturday.
She said the complainant, a 39-year-old Matobo villager, discovered the theft at about 6am after checking his cattle pen and noticing that some of his livestock was missing.
“One of the cows had a deep cut near its tail and there was a trail of blood leading away from the cattle pen towards Bellevue. The complainant and his brother tracked the spoor and blood stains to a bushy area in Newton West, Bulawayo,” said Insp Msebele.
The two men found two 20kg peach-coloured sacks concealed beside the road and, upon inspection, discovered they contained meat. They then mounted an ambush while monitoring the area.
The accused allegedly returned to collect the sacks and was immediately apprehended before the matter was reported to the police.
Police attended the scene and recovered four 20kg sacks containing meat, a brown cow hide with its tail and intestines, a cow’s head and three hooves.
Investigations established that one of the stolen cattle had escaped after the suspect allegedly cut off its tail, which was also recovered at the scene.
The stolen livestock is valued at approximately US$1 000.
Inspector Msebele urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue working closely with the police by reporting suspicious activities, the movement or sale of suspected stolen livestock or meat, and anyone dealing in livestock without the required documentation.
“Criminals should not regard Bulawayo as a safe haven or a ready market for stolen property. Even if a crime is committed outside Bulawayo and the perpetrators flee to the city to dispose of stolen property, police investigations will trace, identify and eventually arrest them,” she said.
