Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku,Court Reporter
Ignatius Charamba, who faced trial for allegedly stealing and slaughtering six cattle from a Johane Masowe Apostolic Church-owned farm located in Umguza, has been acquitted of stock theft charges.
Charamba was arrested on 30 June 2025 after police, led by Inspector Sakson Dube from the Anti-Stock Theft section, received a tip-off that he was selling meat at his home in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo.
Upon searching his premises, officers recovered 240 kilogrammes of meat, fresh cow skins, and offal.
An ox head linked to the stolen cattle was also recovered from a buyer, Ms Sidumisile Moyo, and positively identified through an earmark by a representative of the Johane Masowe farm.
Represented by lawyer Prince Butshe of Butshe and Associates, Charamba told the court that he is engaged in the game meat selling business and that the meat he was selling on the day in question was kudu, not cattle.
In his ruling, Magistrate Richard Ramaboea acquitted Charamba, stating that the State failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He noted that the police did not follow Standard Operating Procedures, as the recovered meat and related items were not recorded in Form 390 as exhibits. This procedural lapse weakened the State’s evidence.
Magistrate Ramaboea also highlighted conflicting testimonies from Inspector Dube and Veterinary Officer Cuthbert Mahere, who failed to conclusively prove that the alleged stolen and slaughtered animals were cattle rather than other bovinae species such as kudu or buffalo.
The allegations against Charamba were that on 30 June 2025, he stole and slaughtered six cattle from the Johane Masowe farm located in Umguza, on the outskirts of Bulawayo. However, the court found the evidence insufficient to support these claims.
The case underscores the importance of strict adherence to investigative procedures in stock theft cases to ensure that evidence is credible and admissible in court.
