Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
POLICE have recovered 22 cattle and 17 Boer cross-breed goats which were stolen in separate incidents in Masvingo and the Beatrice area.
The cattle were recovered in the Chikombedzi area, while 16 of the 17 goats were recovered in the Beatrice area.
Five suspects have since been arrested in connection with the cases. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests.
“On September 17, 2026, at about 4:10 am, members of the ZRP Support Unit who were on a motorised patrol in Chikombedzi, Masvingo, acted on received information and arrested Reason Chitemela aged 46 and Collin Mbirimi aged 52 for stock theft.
“The suspects were travelling in a 30-tonne truck and were intercepted at Malipati area. The arrest led to the recovery of 22 stolen cattle,” he said.
Meanwhile, a farmer in the Beatrice area last week lost about 17 Boer cross-breed goats to thieves who raided his plot.
The three suspects have since been arrested in connection with the case.
“Police in Beatrice arrested three suspects, Ernest Majoni (38), Tawana Matawu (18) and Starlin Chari (31), in connection with a case of stock theft which occurred on September 10, 2026,” Comm Nyathi said.
“The arrest led to the recovery of 17 Boer cross-breed goats. Police recovered 16 of the goats after the suspects were found driving them through bushes approximately 10km from the complainant’s plot.
“Investigations subsequently led to the recovery of another goat at one of the suspects’ homesteads.”
