The Sunday News
A MWENEZI duo is likely to get a record-breaking sentence if they are found guilty of stock theft after they were arrested for stealing 87 head of cattle from a number of farmers in the district which is a well-known cattle area in Zimbabwe.
The minimum mandatory sentence for stock theft is nine years per beast and if it is applied, and the duo is convicted, they could face 783 years in prison.
The two accused persons, Mehluli Dube (34) of house number 250 NRZ, Rutenga and Abel Mpofu (45) of village 7b Rutenga West in Mwenezi appeared before Masvingo magistrate Mrs Sibonginkosi Mkandla sitting on circuit at the Mwenezi magistrate’s court on Thursday.
They were remanded in custody and are awaiting their ruling on bail that will be handed down this week.
They were charged for contravening section 114 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9: 23, stock theft.
The State’s case as presented by the prosecutor Mr Wellington Mutsvadziwa was that during the period extending from January to April this year the two accused persons on diverse occasions proceeded to Tsembwe area, Rutenga in Mwenezi and stole a total of 87 head of cattle.
They would hire a truck to transport the stolen cattle to Chiredzi where they would take them to Montana Meats and Koala for sale so that they would be slaughtered.
It was the State’s case that the matter came to light when some of the complainants went to Montana and Koala where they managed to identify some of their beasts that were in line for slaughter.
Further inquiries from Montana and Koala management revealed that the cattle were brought and bought from the duo. A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the two.
Montana and Koala were ordered to halt the slaughter of the identified cattle. About 37 head of cattle were recovered.
The two, however, applied for bail pending trial through their lawyer Mr Charles Ndlovu but the State opposed it on the basis that they were likely to escape because of the serious charge they were facing.
The State also cited the strength of its case adding that the accused persons were likely to interfere with State witnesses if granted bail. Ruling will be handed down this week.
