Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu,[email protected]
SIX Beitbridge men have been arrested for stock theft, leading to the recovery of evidence linking them to 18 cattle suspected to have been slaughtered.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Chiratidzo Dube, confirmed the arrest of Kudakwashe Mabhanda (39), Tatenda Sungano (25), Saviours Chiputso (48), James Chibaya (30), Simon Togara (50), and Ezekiel Gwauya (43).
“On 26 July 2025 at around 6am, Beitbridge police received a tip-off from an informer to the effect that there was a white Honda Fit with an unknown registration number parked at a house in New Stands, Beitbridge, with a male driver and a male passenger offloading several buckets stained with blood.
“Detectives and members from Beitbridge Urban and Beitbridge Canine proceeded to the scene, where searches were conducted, leading to the recovery of two 20-litre buckets and a washing dish full of meat in the bedroom of one of the accused persons,” she said.
Insp Dube said police also recovered two more dishes filled with meat, three wire snares, two kitchen knives, and an axe from another bedroom. She said the two accused persons were interviewed and revealed that they had stolen and slaughtered two beasts in a bushy area near Naude Quarry site in Beitbridge. The two accused then implicated their four other accomplices.
Insp Dube said further investigations revealed that the accused persons were linked to several stock theft cases which occurred in Beitbridge.
The gang led police to eight different scenes where evidence was gathered, showing that they had stolen and slaughtered 18 cattle.
Bongani Ndlovu