Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
A GROUP of suspected cattle thieves met its match when an alert owner caught them in the act of butchering one of her livestock.
In their haste to flee in a Toyota Probox, the quick-thinking owner jotted down their licence plate number despite the cover of darkness.
Acting Manicaland police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the arrest of the suspects, Evans Jera (30) of Dangamvura and Munyaradzi Masiye (38) of Sakubva, for allegedly stealing a beast from Immaculate Munyikwa of Muzokomba in Buhera.
The two were busted by Munyikwa while deboning the meat and made a hasty retreat from the crime scene in a vehicle, whose registration numbers she managed to see. She then supplied the police with information which led to the pair’s arrest.
The suspects revealed to the police that they wanted to supply a butchery in Sakubva with the stolen meat.
“On February 15 2026, at around 9 pm, Jera and Masiye, together with Douglas Kutsiurai, who is still at large, went to Munyikwa’s kraal and stole a brown ox with white patches, curved horns and a black and white ox with curved horns.
They then drove the oxen to the nearby area where they slaughtered and deboned them, leaving only the head, bones and legs at the scene.
“Munyikwa was asleep when she heard dogs barking, which prompted her to wake up and go outside to investigate,” he said.
“She discovered that her two oxen had been stolen. She then tracked the spoor, and when she was some metres away from the scene, she saw an unknown suspect loading some sacks into a Toyota Probox registration number AHN 1100, which sped off after realising that there was someone approaching.
“On February 16 2026, at around 7am, a case of stock theft was reported at ZRP Muzokomba.
“On March 13, 2026, police verified the registration plate of the said vehicle through the Central Vehicle Registry in order to get particulars of the owner who is Rangarirai Muchedzi, aged 39, of 9073 Mountain Rise Chikanga Extension.
On March 14, 2026, police officers proceeded to the said address in Mutare, where they interviewed the owner of the vehicle.
According to the police, Muchedzi indicated that he gave the car to his relative Lenex Makwanza (28) of 4984 Area 3, Dangamvura, Mutare, who was contacted and interviewed.
Makwanza stated that he gave the vehicle to Jera, who was using it on the day in question.
Police found Jera with the car and arrested him and he implicated Masiye, who was also arrested.
The third suspect, Kutsiurai, is yet to be apprehended.
“Police proceeded to Dangamvura and met Makwanza, who led them to Jera’s homestead. Upon arrival, the police identified the motor vehicle which was parked at the yard.
“Jera was subsequently arrested, interviewed and stated that on February 25, 2026, he was hired by Masiye and Kutsiurai to transport beef carcass from Magamba Chigwidi, Muzokomba, Buhera, to Anella Butchery located at number 9 Sakubva Road, Chigomba Business Centre, Mutare.
“The butcher is owned by Gift Nyandoro (44) of 5290 Zimta, Mutare and Rabson Chabata (50) of 5024 Chikanga 2, Mutare.
“Jera led the police to the arrest of the accused Masiye, who also implicated Kutsiurai, a male adult of unknown address, who is still at large. The accused persons were taken to ZRP Mutare Central, where they are currently detained,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
