Man steals 5 donkeys to buy groceries

This Aug. 27, 2011 photo released by the Humane Society of the United States shows wild donkeys that once roamed freely on the south slopes of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii being rounded up and taken to the Waikii Ranch in Waikoloa, Hawaii. The last 50 wild donkeys of a herd on Hawaii's Big Island will be rounded up to mark the final step in a six-year effort to get them in adoptive homes. The Humane Society of the United States and Big Island residents are working together Friday, May 20, 2016, to prepare the donkeys for adoption. (Eugene Tanner/The Humane Society of the United States via AP)

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.