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Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
Two men from Shashe, Beitbridge, have been jailed for an effective nine years each for stealing three cattle.
The duo smuggled the beasts via Limpopo River and attempted to sell them in South Africa.
Respect Moyo (25) and Prince Tlou (27) were arrested after their potential buyer sent some images to an anti-stock theft chat group to verify the ownership of the cattle.
Moyo and Tlou were convicted on their own plea of guilty when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba on Thursday.
Prosecuting, Mr Ronald Mugwagwa said on January 10, the accused persons stole three cattle from Shashe Number 15 grazing lands in Beitbridge.
They then smuggled them via the Limpopo River to South Africa and went to Samaria grazing lands.
While in South Africa, they approached a potential buyer intending to sell each cow for R5 000.
Images of the cows were then sent in a chat group to verify if the accused were indeed the owners of the beasts.
The owner of the three cattle positively identified them and reported the matter to the police.
The duo were then tracked and were found with the stolen livestock in South Africa.
Moyo and Tlou were arrested and the three cattle were recovered.
The theft of livestock in South Africa and Zimbabwe, especially goats, sheep, and cattle, has become a perennial headache, resulting in communities living in the two countries collaborating to fight stock theft.
Online Reporter