Online Reporter
Paul Pindani in CHINHOYI
TWO men have been sentenced to nine years in prison for stock theft.
Wayne Dennise Chipfunda (41) and Cephas Matsiru (45), from Chinhoyi, were facing two counts of stock theft.
They were acquitted on one count but were convicted on the other count at the Chinhoyi Magistrate Court.
The second stock theft case, which led to their conviction, took place on February 19.
Magistrate Nyasha Marufu handed down the sentence after finding the pair guilty on this count. Marufu acquitted them on a similar second count.
The duo cut the security wire at Tapiwa Meda’s farm at Plot 74 in Chitomborwizi.
They stole two cows, a brown one with a white patch and curved horns and a pregnant one with curved horns.
The animals were headed for about 500 metres, slaughtered and the meat was packed.
The two hired a car to take their loot to Magiya’s house where they started selling the meat.
Detectives from CID Chinhoyi, acting on a tip-off, raided the house and arrested the two men.
During questioning, they confessed to the crime and led police to Meda’s plot, where they demonstrated how they stole the beats.
They were also facing similar accusations on another case but they were acquitted.
Prosecutor Dylan Gandawa, told the court that on January 27, this year, Chipfunda and Matsiru allegedly conspired to steal from Welfare Gombingo’s herd.
They allegedly cut the cattle pen wire, secured two cows, and drove them away before slaughtering them.
Gandawa claimed the meat was then packed into sacks and transported in a white vehicle to Chipo Magiya’s residence, where it was sold for US$250.
Gombingo discovered the theft the following morning.
The total value stolen in this count was US$800.
Mathew Masinge