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Luthando Mapepa Correspondent
A CHIPINGE man stole five donkeys from a neighbour and took them to the market where he intended to sell them to raise money for groceries.
Matthias Matyei (36) of Mariga Village under Chief Musikavanhu appeared before Chipinge senior magistrate Mr Noah Gwatidzo yesterday, facing stock theft charges.
He pleaded guilty. The prosecutor Mr Gift Bikita told the court that on December 15 last year in Mariga Village, Timber Mahlanguro left his donkeys to graze.
“Matyei hatched a plan to steal the donkeys. “He drove them away to find a buyer.
“He was later seen at Checheche Growth Point with the donkeys, looking for buyers.
“A villager then alerted Mahlanguro that he saw Matyei selling donkeys and he made a follow-up,” said Mr Bikita.
Mahlanguro confronted Matyei, who fled from the scene. Matyei went to hide in South Africa after Mahlanguro had reported the matter to the police.
“On July 20 this year, police got a tip off from the public that Matyei had returned from South Africa and was staying with his wife at another house in Mariga Village.
“Police swiftly reacted to the tip-off, leading to the arrest of Matyei,” Mr Bikita said.
Asked by the magistrate why he stole the donkeys, Matyei said: “Your worship, I stole the donkeys because I wanted to raise money to buy food for the family.
“I wanted the complainant to permanently lose his donkeys. I am pleading with this court to consider imposing a fine on me.” Mr Gwatidzo remanded Matyei to September 8 for sentencing.
Online Reporter