adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 36-YEAR-OLD Bulilima man who killed his sister and was caught eating some of her body parts in 2002 has been sentenced to an effective 54 years in jail for stealing 19 head of cattle.He committed the theft only three days after being released from prison for his murder case.
Edward Dube of Dombodema area in Bulilima stole the beasts, which belonged to six Botswana villagers in September last year.
His brother sold him out to the police when he drove the cattle to his homestead.
Dube killed his sister in 2002 and was discovered by some family members while feasting on some of his sister’s body parts.
The courts referred him to a mental facility but he was discharged after a three-month stay after being deemed to be mentally stable.
Dube denied the stock theft allegations when he appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa.
He told the court that he bought the beasts from a neighbouring village using his savings.
“I came out of prison and because I had no money on me I went to collect some money which I was owed by my former boss in Botswana. This is the money which I used to buy the 19 head of cattle,” he told the court.
He was, however, convicted due to overwhelming evidence presented by the state.
Dube’s elder brother Tshakalisa told the court that he is the one who alerted the police of his brother’s offence.
Tshakalisa said his brother spent one day with him and later indicated that he had to travel to Botswana to collect his money.
The court heard that two days later Dube returned with 19 beasts and told his brother he had bought them using the money he had collected.
“I then asked for a stock clearance certificate from my brother suspecting that he had stolen the cattle and he failed to produce it.
“I then approached our village head Smart Tshuma and told him about the issue and together we went to the police,” said Tshakalisa.
Prosecuting, Stanley Chinyanganya said Dube proceeded to grazing pastures at Nlaphkhwane area in Botswana on September 14 where he stole branded cattle belonging to Pilot Bobe, Elias Masalila, Falani Masalila, Gadzani Masalila, Mehluli George and Zose Masalila.
Dube was arrested immediately after the report was made and the owners of the cattle were alerted that their beasts had been recovered in Dombodema area as they had made reports on their missing cattle.
They each positively identified them.
Dube was charged with six counts of stock theft and Ruvetsa sentenced him to an effective nine years in jail for each count.
“It appears that the 10 years that you spent in prison did not reform you in any way. Rather it appears that you enjoyed your stay there, so much that you could not wait to go back,” said Ruvetsa.
Online Reporter