Farmers lose 16 cattle

Crime Reporter

SOME farmers in Mahenye communal area in Chipinge District, Manicaland Province recently lost 16 cattle at a grazing area to stock thieves with such cases increase countrywide.

Police have since arrested two of the suspects and recovered eight of the stolen beasts which had been sold in and around the area.

The cattle were stolen at some grazing area in Mustvuka Village.National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests of the two suspects and said investigations were still in progress. 

“On August 13, 2022, ZRP Support Unit members deployed at Mahenye police base arrested Lincoln Biya aged 34 and Witness Biya aged 29 in connection with a case of stock theft in which they allegedly stole 16 beasts at Mutsvuka Village grazing lands.

“Police have since recovered eight of the beasts, which the suspects had already sold,” he said.

Efforts are still being made to recover the remaining stolen cattle.

This incident comes after stock theft activities had been on the increase countrywide with some criminals targeting cattle and goats at grazing areas.

In January, police recovered seven of the 95 cattle worth US$60 000 that were last year stolen at CSC Dubani Ranch in Colleen Bawn, Matabeleland South as they launched a manhunt for the suspect involved in the case.

The cattle comprising of 45 cows, 35 heifers and 15 steers, all branded “T1 R1 K3”, went missing between April 28 and November 21 last year. 

The suspect was identified as Brighton Siziba who had gone into hiding after police recovered the seven cattle worth US$4 200 at his home in Tibeli area in Guyu.

In July last year, police in Chikombedzi, Chiredzi, arrested a man for allegedly stealing 12 cattle.