Teen sentenced to 18 years in jail for stock theft

Tarisiro Tafirenyika- [email protected]

AN 18-year-old man from Harare was sentenced to 18 years in prison for stealing 2 oxen.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) in a statement on X said on 3 October, Tawanda Matope entered grazing land and stole two oxen belonging to different owners.
He tied the animals with a rope and took them to the home of Rosemary Maredza, where he planned to keep them while searching for buyers. Suspicious of his actions, Maredza alerted the village head, who, along with four other men, went to investigate.
When questioned about the oxen, Matope failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. The village head then summoned a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee, who recovered the stolen oxen. The total value of the stolen animals was assessed at US$700 and US$500, all of which were recovered.
Matope was convicted on two counts of stock theft and sentenced to 18 years in prison