Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
A 19-YEAR-OLD from Nyahukwe Village on the outskirts of Rusape has learnt the hard way that crime does not pay after being sentenced to 18 years in prison for cattle theft.
Clive Samuwi of Village D, Nyahukwe, was convicted of stealing five beasts from his elderly neighbours and selling them to unsuspecting buyers.
He appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate, Mrs Barbra Mateko and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Prosecutor, Ms Faith Mutukwa told the court that Samuwi stole cattle belonging to Mr Fredrick Nyaruwanga (61), Mr Godfrey Chinowaita (73), Mrs Nyaradzai Mandeya (51), and Ms Luisa Urayayi (61).
Four of the stolen animals were recovered, while one was slaughtered at a memorial service.
Detailing the offences, Ms Mutukwa said on August 27, 2025, Mr Nyaruwanga penned his cattle in the kraal at Village 8, Nyahukwe. The following morning, he discovered one brown steer missing and reported the matter to the police.
Samuwi later confessed to the theft and led officers to Canisious Makurumidze’s homestead, where the stolen ox valued at US$400 was recovered.
On August 15, Mr Chinowaita also penned his cattle at Village B, Nyahukwe. The next day, he found one brown cow missing.
Samuwi admitted stealing the animal and selling it to Courage Masiya, who in turn sold it to Susan Chiwenga.
The cow, valued at US$500, was slaughtered at Chiwenga’s father’s memorial service and could not be recovered.
Ms Mutukwa further told the court that Samuwi used the same modus operandi to steal from the villagers till luck run out of him and nabbed by the police.
“On the night of September 24, around 6pm and September 25 around 5am at Makonde Village, Chief Makoni, Samuwi went to Mrs Nyaradzai Mandeya’s well, removed a rope which she used at the well to fetch water, and went to her kraal with the rope. He opened the kraal, tied up one brown ox with horns facing upwards and went away with the ox unnoticed.
“The accused person tied the ox in a bush in the same village where it was discovered by the complainant who was looking for it. She made a report to the police suspecting Samuwi. He was later arrested and admitted the offence. The recovered ox was valued at US$400.
“He also stole two oxen from Ms Luisa Urayayi (61) of Nyahukwe Village and sold one to Courage Masiya. He led police to Masiya’s homestead. The ox valued at US$300 was recovered. The second one valued at US$350 was recovered in Chikunguru Village,” Ms Mutukwa told the court.
In passing sentence, Mrs Mateko noted the seriousness of the offence and the impact on the victims, stressing that cattle rustling remains a grave crime in rural communities.
