The Sunday News
Amanda Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
THREE men from Binga who stole four cattle and sold them to a Gokwe abattoir have been convicted and each sentenced to an effective 20 years in jail.
The trio of Cossam Mwembe (31), Albert Zvidza (45) and Edson Zvidza (45) pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Binga magistrate Mrs Ailene Munamati last week facing two counts of stock theft.
In sentencing, Mrs Munamati said: “You are sentenced to 25 years each, five of which are suspended for five years on condition you do not commit an offence of a similar nature. You are therefore each sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison.”
Prosecutor, Mr Bruce Maphosa told the court that on 3 December last year at about 8am Mr Muleya Dube left his five cattle at a nearby grazing area.
He said the trio connived and stole one of Mr Dube’s beasts which was driven by Albert Zvidza and Edson Zvidza to an abattoir in Gokwe for slaughter.
The court heard that the complainant got a tip off and went to Gokwe abattoir and found the two with the beast. The two then led the police to Mwembe claiming that they bought the beast from him.
The value of the stolen beast was $600 and was recovered.
On the second count on the same day Mr Leornard Chiabe left his 10 cattle at a nearby grazing area. The trio connived and stole three of the complainant’s beasts which they drove together with Mr Dube’s to a Gokwe abattoir.
The court heard through the prosecutor that Mr Chiabe also received a tip-off and went to Gokwe abattoir where he found the two with the beasts and upon enquiry they claimed they bought the beasts from Mwembe.
Two of the stolen beasts valued at $1 450 were recovered, the third one was already slaughtered.
Asked why they committed the offence, Mwembe said he wanted to sell the beasts so that he can pay for his wife’s operation while Albert Zvidza and Edson Zvidza said they wanted to buy food.
