adminEmily Mbewe Court Reporter
A MBEMBESI businessman who allegedly stole 31 head of cattle from fellow villagers has told a court he was “keeping the animals safe for their owners.” Luckson Sibanda, 65, allegedly sold a heifer that he is suspected to have stolen from a neighbour’s kraal to his in-laws. Sibanda has two previous convictions with one being for stocktheft.
He pleaded not guilty to stocktheft and was remanded out of custody June 2 on $200 bail when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa- Marondedze on Friday.
Sibanda told the court villagers who were jealous of his success were framing him.
“Your worship I’ve been accused of stocktheft before but l won the case because the beast belonged to me. I knew each and every mark on the beast. I’m just being framed. l think these people are jealous of me because l have many assets ,” he said.
When Sibanda was asked why 31 cattle belonging to other people were found in his possession, he told the court that the owners failed to take proper care of their beasts.
He said he had been taking care of the 31 cattle on behalf of their owners, as per village tradition.
“It’s a norm in our village that if a person does not pen his cattle in time and another finds the animals among his cattle, he can take care of the beasts so that they don’t get lost,” said Sibanda.
Prosecuting, Taurayi Hondoyemoto told the court that on March 2 at around 5PM, Thulani Ncube, Jacob Mpala and Alison Naidoo penned their cattle in Kirton farm.
The court heard that the following morning they found one heifer, a cow and a calf missing from the herd of cattle that was in the kraal.
“On April this year Sebatha Bukhathile, Ncube, Nkala and Naidoo got a tip off on the missing cattle,”said Hondoyemoto.
He said one of the missing heifers was sold by Sibanda to his in-laws.
The court heard that the next day a report was made leading to Sibanda’s arrest.
“The arrest led to the recovery of the calf from Sibanda’s in- laws,”said Hondoyemoto.
He told the court that when Sibanda was interviewed he admitted to having stolen the cow and heifer which he said he slaughtered and buried the skin and horns in a pit.
Hondoyemoto said the skins were dug up and positively identified by the owners of the cattle.
“The value of the beasts stolen is $1,000 and only $200 was recovered,” said Hondoyemoto.
He said on April 23 at around 11AM, Jabulani Mtambo released his herd of cattle for grazing.
“When Mtambo was rounding up his cattle he discovered that two heifers were missing,” said Hondoyemoto.
The court heard that after a week Mtambo filed a report and he heard that a stock theft suspect was in police custody and when he went with police officers to Sibanda’s home, he found his heifers amongst the cattle.
The value of the stolen heifers is $900 and they were all recovered.
Sidumisile Mabena