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Danisa Masuku
A MAN from Dibi village in Kezi, Matabeleland South Province who stole two donkeys and marked them with a false identity, and used them to till his fields has been sentenced to perform 350 hours of community service.
Nelson Moyo (24) appeared before Kezi magistrate Busani Sibanda facing two counts of theft.
He pleaded guilty to both counts.
The magistrate slapped him with a 15-month jail sentence. Five months were suspended on condition that within a period of five years he does not commit any offence involving theft.
The court further suspended 10 months on condition that he performs 350 hours of community service at Nhlupho Secondary School.
In arriving at the sentence the magistrate noted that Moyo was a first-time offender and he didn’t waste the court’s time when he pleaded guilty to both counts of theft.
However, the magistrate highlighted that cases of theft of stray domestic animals were high in the area and as such a strong message should be sent to like-minded people.
The magistrate further said Moyo used the donkeys for free and benefited from the fruits of his crime.
The court heard that sometime in September last year Moyo saw a stray donkey in Dibi village. He then led the animal to his home, where he marked it with a false identification mark before using it to plough his fields.
The court further heard that sometime in November last year, Moyo again saw another stray donkey in the village.
He then repeated his actions, taking the animal home and illegally marking it with his own identification tag.
However, his concerned father who discovered the crime reported the incident to the police, leading to Moyo’s arrest.
Online Reporter