Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
A COMMUNAL farmer in Rusape was left counting huge loses after cattle rustlers broke into his kraal, stole two beasts and slaughtered and deboned them before disappearing with the meat.
The incident has raised concern among livestock farmers, who continue to suffer huge losses from cattle rustling and other forms of livestock theft.
Acting Manicaland Police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the incident and said the thieves targeted the cattle during the night, driving the animals away from the kraal before slaughtering them.
“On September 9, 2026, between 5am and 6am, unknown accused persons stole two oxen from the pen and went to slaughter them in a nearby bush.
“They went away with the carcass.
“The oxen are owned by Pardon Bura of Village 31, Domborembizi under Chief Makoni. Police attended scene and no arrests were made.
“The oxen were valued at US$1,300. Investigations are in progress,” said Ass-Insp Chinyoka.
In an unrelated case a retired school headmaster Richard Chiome (69) had his elven goats and one sheep stolen by thieves who cut the fence to gain entrance into the pen and drove the livestock away.
“On September 5, 2026, Movet Murapa (25) of Zimati Estates, Rusape a domestic worker of Chiome, penned the goats and sheep.
“On September 6, around 6am, Murapa went to the pen to take the livestock to the grazing area.
“He noticed that an unknown accused person had used a unknown object to cut the fence of the goat pen and stole 43 goats and one sheep.
“Murapa followed some footprints from the pen and, after two kilometres, he recovered 32 goats in the bush.
“Eleven goats and one sheep were missing. The case was reported on the same day. Value stole is US$1,120 and US$675 was recovered.
“Investigations are in progress and police are appealing for information leading to the arrest of the culprits.”
