admindenied stocktheft charges when they appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Olivia Mariga.
Mhepo, barely two days after being slapped with a nine-year prison term, for a similar offence, will spend the next 18 years behind bars.
In their defence, Hoya said the beast belonged to his son who is in the business of buying and selling meat while Mhepo told the court that he knew nothing about the stolen bull.
Ms Mariga convicted the duo on the grounds of solid evidence against them. This was after the complainant Mr James Chitasi gave credible evidence on how the duo committed the offence.
“You two were spotted herding the animal and upon request to produce a clearance letter, Hoya claimed the bull belonged to your son while Mhepo said he knew nothing about the offence.
“Thus, you are sentenced to a mandatory jail term of nine years each,” said Ms Mariga before imposing the mandatory nine-year terms of imprisonment on the two cattle rustlers.
Mhepo and Hoya’s son Nelson Ngwendere, still at large, initially stole seven cattle valued at US$4 100 and they were all recovered. The court heard that on the dates
unknown to the prosecutor but within the period from October 10 to 13, Hoya, his son Ngwendere and Mhepo connived to steal the cattle at a farm in Beatrice.
They went to the farm where they stole a bull and took it to Kapfidze Village where they kept it.
A security guard at the farm met the pair and asked them where they were taking the animal and was told they bought it.
At the time, Ngwendere had proceeded to Harare to hire a truck.
Hoya facilitated the clearance letter, which Ngwendere went to collect at Nyamweda police station. The following day, Ngwendere came with the driver of a Toyo Ace truck with registration number ABK 2344 to collect cattle. On the way, the driver met a villager Hazvinei Gwanzura and inquired on a suitable place to load the cattle. Gwanzura demanded a permit from veterinary and a police clearance from the driver who failed to produce one.
The driver reportedly drove his truck to the village head Alois Kapfidze’s homestead where he reported the case.
Online Reporter