Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A 19-YEAR-OLD man from Murehwa, who stole 11 cattle to raise money for legal fees for his father — on remand for allegedly stealing donkeys — has been jailed for nine years.
Brighton Zvironzo of Kadenge Village, Chief Mangwende, Murehwa, pleaded guilty to stock theft when he appeared before Murehwa Magistrate Mr Panashe Matongo.
He told the court that he stole the cattle to raise money to engage a lawyer for his father, who was on remand facing charges of stealing seven donkeys from the same village.
The complainant in the matter is Nicholas Chakavarika (71) of Chakavarika Village, Chief Mangwende.
Prosecutor Ms Anesu Gwena told the court that on August 4, 2026, at around 5pm, Chakavarika penned his 14 cattle in a kraal before retiring for the night.
During the night, Zvironzo and his accomplice, who is still at large, entered the kraal and drove away 11 cattle without being detected.
The following morning, at around 6am, Chakavarika discovered that 11 of his cattle were missing.
He tried to trace the spoor but was unsuccessful before alerting other villagers through WhatsApp groups.
Later that day, police received a tip-off that Zvironzo and his accomplice were driving 11 cattle towards Chizanga Village, also in Chief Mangwende area.
Police intercepted the pair and arrested Zvironzo, recovering all 11 stolen cattle.
The stolen cattle were valued at US$4 400.
