Police arrest fugitive cow thief after tip-off, accomplice jailed last year

Bongani Ndlovu, Online Reporter

A 33-year-old man from Jotsholo, in Matabeleland North province, has been arrested in Bulawayo for stealing three cows, nearly a year after his accomplice was jailed for the same offence.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the arrest of Kondwane Jele (33) of Village 48, Chief Gumede, Jotsholo, Lupane District, in connection with a stock theft case.
“On the 21st of July 2025 at around 1000 hours, police officers in Bulawayo received a tip-off indicating that the accused person, who was wanted in connection with a stock-theft case in Jotsholo Police Station, was at a certain house in Robert Sinyoka Village, Bulawayo,” said Inspector Msebele.

She said police acted on the information, leading to Jele’s arrest.

During investigations, Inspector Msebele said, Jele admitted to stealing three beasts in Jotsholo alongside his accomplice, Mtunywa Nyoni, who was arrested in December 2024 and later sentenced to nine years in prison.