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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
A GWANDA man has been arrested for allegedly stealing 31 head of cattle from Botswana.
Nkosiyabo Gumbi (34) of Ngoma area reportedly drove the animals to a farm at Railway Block, West Nicholson where he stays.
Gumbi was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi facing a stocktheft charge.
He was remanded in custody to June 14.
Prosecuting, Mr Mncedisi Dube said Gumbi stole the cattle in May.
“On a date unknown to the prosecutor but in May, Gumbi stole 31 head of cattle from Botswana and took them to Farm 43 Railway Block in West Nicholson. The complainants made a follow up in search of their cattle and they positively identified 31 head of cattle which were penned in Gumbi’s kraal. He was arrested on May 29,” he said.
In a related matter, two men have appeared in court while their three accomplices are at large for reportedly stealing eight head of cattle.
Mncedisi Sibanda (45) of Makwe Village in Gwanda and Somandla Ndlovu (42) of Silozwi Village in Kezi were not asked to plead when they appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a stocktheft charge.
They were remanded in custody to June 14.
Prosecuting, Mr Mncedisi Dube said Sibanda, Ndlovu and their accomplices stole the cattle from John Hunt’s plot in Gwanda on May 28.
“Sibanda and Ndlovu who were in the company of three other accused persons who are still at large went into Mr Hunt’s plot on May 28 and drove eight cattle to Somandla Ndlovu’s plot in Kezi,” he said.
Mr Hunt’s workers tracked the spoor until they reached Somandla Ndlovu’s plot where they found some of the missing cattle.
They recovered four of the stolen cattle which were being kept in a kraal.
The value of the stolen cattle is $5 600 and cattle worth $2 800 were recovered,” he said.
—@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter