adminLeonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
A WOMAN from Inyathi in Bubi district has been arrested for stealing a calf from a fellow villager.
Sithokozile Msimanga (55) from Village 4, Finchan in Inyathi, stole Mrs Thandiwe Ndlovu’s calf and branded its ears using her personal livestock brand.
Msimanga was charged with stocktheft when she appeared before Inyathi magistrate Mr Temba Chimiso on Monday.She pleaded guilty and was remanded out of custody to Friday.
Prosecuting, Mr Lungisani Dube said Msimanga stole the calf from Finchan grazing area on January 4 this year where Mrs Ndlovu had left her herd of cattle unattended.
“The complainant released her cattle for grazing and left them unattended at Finchan grazing area. Among the herd was a brown male calf. The accused person took advantage of the unattended herd and drove away the calf to her homestead,” said Mr Dube. He said when she got home, Msimanga branded the calf with earmarks and kept it as if it was hers.
Mr Dube said Mrs Ndlovu searched for the calf but couldn’t find it until a month later when she spotted it among Msimanga’s herd at a dam.
“The complainant discovered that her calf had earmarks identical to those of Msimanga’s herd. She confronted her but she (Msimanga) told her the calf was hers. A report was made to the police leading to the accused’s arrest,” said Mr Dube.
The case went to court by way of summons following months of investigations. The calf is valued at $150 and was recovered.
Online Reporter