adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A MANGWE woman will spend the next nine years in prison after stealing a heifer belonging to a neighbour valued at $600. Lumbidzani Sibanda, 32, of Mayobodo, acknowledged to the court that the beast was not hers but did not know its owner as it had strayed into her herd.
“That beast has been among my herd for the past eight months and I thought that it had strayed from a far away village. I tried to locate the owner but I failed and ended up keeping it as my own.
“I think the beast wandered off and joined my herd as it was grazing because I later saw it among my herd,” said Sibanda.
Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, convicted her of stock theft and sentenced her to an effective nine years in prison.
Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said Sibanda stole the beast belonging to her neighbour Edward Ngwenya, 42, last year in June.
He said Ngwenya identified his heifer which was penned in Sibanda’s kraal on February 20.
“Ngwenya’s beast went missing from his herd in June last year and he searched for it everywhere but could not find it. On February 20 he spotted his heifer in Sibanda’s kraal and questioned the woman who later revealed that the beast had strayed into her herd,” said Shawarira.
In another incident which occurred recently, a 55-year-old woman from the same district was sentenced to nine years in prison by magistrate Ruvetsa for stealing her neighbour’s beast. The beast was valued at $800.
Sinothile Ndlovu of Marula area told the court that she committed the offence in order to fend for her family.
She said her family was now surviving on food handouts.
“I apologise Your Worship but I didn’t mean to steal the beast but I was driven by starvation. I’m an unemployed widow and I struggle to put food on the table for my six children. I wanted to sell the beast so that I could sustain my family,” said Ndlovu.
Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said Ndlovu stole a heifer belonging to Onious Ncube on 2 February.
He said Ndlovu found Ncube’s head of cattle grazing in Marula area and took one heifer.
Shawarira said the woman proceeded with the beast to her homestead.
“She penned it together with her own cattle and placed her own brand mark,” said Shawarira.
He said Ncube spotted his beast in his neighbour’s kraal and questioned her on how she acquired it.
Shawarira said Ndlovu later confessed to have stolen the beast from her neighbour’s herd resulting in her immediate arrest.
Online Reporter