Goat thief nabbed

Mashudu Mambo

A 20-YEAR-OLD man from Beitbridge has been slapped with a 24-month sentence for allegedly stealing 13 goats after he and his accomplice drove the goats from their grazing land and sold them.

Malvin Sibanda appeared before a Beitbridge magistrate facing a charge of stock theft. He was convicted and sentenced.

Six months of the sentence was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour and a further 10 months was suspended on condition that he restitutes the victim of $10 400 by 20 October 2024. He will therefore serve an effective eight months in prison.

The court heard that in a period extending from June to 24 August 2024, Sibanda connived with his accomplice known as Chabangu who is still at large to steal Gladys Ndou’s goats which were grazing at Masera grazing land.

The duo drove the goats to Shashe village where they sold them to unknown buyers. The matter came to light on 24 August 2024, after an informer advised Ndou that the duo was spotted with her goats.

The matter was reported to the police and investigations led to the arrest of Sibanda.