adminMichael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Angry villagers in Zhombe want a school teacher charged with stealing livestock removed from their area, regardless of any court verdict. The teacher is suspected to have gone into hiding after an angry mob of villagers besieged the school threatening to forcibly evict him.
The villagers later approached Chief Zhombe, Mr Weight Gwesela, and implored him to facilitate the eviction of the teacher.
The teacher, Thomas Mhaka (46) who is based at St Martins Deporis Primary School, was last week arraigned before the courts with his two suspected accomplices on three counts of stock theft after he allegedly stole about five beasts from the pastures.
He is out on $50 bail and is waiting for his trial date.
Villagers who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the three cases were just a tip of a possible iceberg and that other thefts could possibly be leaid at his door.
“We are saying he should go back to Masvingo where he comes from instead of stealing from us,” said one villager.
Another villager said they have since approached the chief to take action or they will take the matter into their own hands.
“He should go, he has dragged the name of the profession into disrepute and has failed to be a role model to our children. What can you expect to learn from a thief who steals from villagers,” he said.
Chief Zhombe confirmed receiving complaints from some of the villagers and said he had since taken up the matter with the parent ministry.
“We have since approached the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to have him transfered. We cannot have such a teacher who goes around stealing from parents. He has set a wrong precedent,” said Chief Gwesela.
Allegations against Mhaka are that, on August 14 at around 3 pm, he and his accomplices went to pastures near Somkhaya Dam in Ngondoma Village, under Chief Ntabeni and stole a beast belonging to Jabulani Dube and went away unnoticed.
Dube reported the matter to the police, investigations led to the recovery of the beast at Nsingo’s homestead.
On count two, on the same day, the three accused persons allegedly stole two beasts belonging to Mdudusi Sibanda from pastures near Somkhaya Dam and left unnoticed.
The beasts which were also recovered at Nsingo’s homestead.
On the third count, on the same day the suspects allegedly went to the same pastures and stole two beasts belonging to Bantu Khumalo.
Nsingo and Mhaka then sold the one beast to Mr Milton Siziba.
Mr Siziba allegedly sent $370 via EcoCash to Mhaka. The complainant reported the matter to the police and one beast was recovered at Nsingo’s homestead while the other was recovered at Siziba’s homestead.
Online Reporter