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TWO suspected notorious cattle rustlers who were nabbed in an ongoing anti-stock theft operation in Beitbridge were on Monday brought before the courts for allegedly stealing three stray animals.
Tymon Ncube (44) and Stanley Moyo (37), both of Ngoma area in Gwanda district, pleaded not guilty to stock theft charges when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Miss Gloria Takundwa.
They were remanded in custody to 11 April. The State opposed bail, arguing that if granted bail, there was no guarantee that Ncube and Moyo would not abscond given the gravity of the offence they are facing. It was also noted that if granted bail, the pair would interfere with ongoing police investigations.
The prosecutor, Miss Memory Mandityira, said sometime in December last year, the pair spotted three stray cattle at a grazing area in Ngoma village. The court heard that the two men connived and drove the animals to their homestead where they penned them. They did not notify police or the village head about the stray cattle.
On 12 February, the pair rebranded the three cattle using their own brand mark in an effort to conceal the original one, the State alleges. They then released the cattle into the grazing area.
Acting on a tip-off, police descended on the accused persons’ homestead and arrested them.
Meanwhile, another 45-year-old man from neighbouring John Dip village in Gwanda was also arraigned before the same court for allegedly stealing a herd of six cattle worth $3 000.
Ketsibile Dube, of John Dip village under Chief Marupi in Gwanda pleaded not guilty to stock theft when he appeared before Miss Takundwa.
He was also remanded in custody to 11 April.
Appearing for the State, Miss Mandityira said on 6 March, police were on patrol at John Dip village when they received a tip-off that Dube was keeping a herd of six
stolen cattle in his pen. The court heard that Dube connived with two other suspects, Kibeletso Dube and Evi Dube, who are still at large. On being arrested police did not recover the alleged stolen livestock and the accused person claimed that Kibeletso and Evi stole the animals.
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