adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Two men believed to be the kingpins of a cattle rustling syndicate operating along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway were last Friday jailed for an effective 15 years each by a Beitbridge magistrate.
Kudakwashe Mabanda (32) and Isaac Moyoweshumba (30) were convicted on their own plea of guilt when they appeared before Mr Langton Mukwengi on charges of stealing three beasts worth $1 800.
Other members of the syndicate are Philip Banda (56), Tsungirirai Zvakamwe (23), Owen Gumbo (18), Ketin Gudhe (40) and Lucia Khumalo (46). Khumalo is the Beitbridge Resident Association’s secretary for finance and all the accused reside in Dulivhadzimo suburb in the border town.
Mabanda and Moyoweshumba were initially sentenced to 18 years each in prison before Mr Mukwengi conditionally suspended three years of their terms for five years.
The trial of their other accomplices, who are denying the charges, starts on March 2. The prosecutor Mr Jabulani Mberesi told the court that on February 8, at around 0400 hours, police officers on patrol spotted a black Toyota Raum turning into the bush near Masvingo turn off and became suspicious.
The vehicle was being driven by Banda, who was in the company of Mabanda and Moyoweshumba. He said the police officers followed the vehicle and found the trio loading something into the vehicle.
Banda spotted the officers and they drove away at high speed, but the police managed to record the vehicle’s registration numbers. The police found three by 50kgs sacks of meat at the crime scene.
They conducted further searches around the area and discovered three fresh carcasses of cattle, which had been slaughtered by Mabanda and Moyoweshumba. Mr Mberesi said the police made a follow up on the vehicle and found it near Mashavire Business Centre in Dulivhadzimo suburb.
He said the trio of Banda, Mabanda and Moyoweshumba tried to flee, but surrendered after the cops fired one warning shot. He said three by 25-litre buckets of meat were recovered from the vehicle. Upon further interrogations, the trio led the police to their accomplices’ homes in Dulivhadzimo suburb, where more meat stashed in buckets was recovered.
Zvakamwe, Gumbo, Gudhe and Khumalo were subsequently arrested. Mr Mberesi said only 400kgs of meat was recovered.
Online Reporter