The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 33-YEAR-OLD farm worker will spend the next nine years in prison after he stole his employer’s beast in a bid to have a feast together with his family over the festive holiday.Sibangilizwe Moyo of Figtree area slaughtered his employer’s beast valued at $800 and hid the head in a hole to conceal the offence.
He ran out of luck after his workmate, John Maseko, discovered that a beast was missing and noticed Moyo’s footprints around the area where the beast was slaughtered.
Moyo told the court that he was trying to secure food for his family.
“I was just trying to fend for my family Your Worship because I did not have money to buy food for my children. I also wanted them to enjoy a decent meal over the festive holiday but unfortunately I did not have the means to make this possible.
“I am employed but the money I earn is hardly enough for me to put food on the table for my family of six children and also to cater for their other needs,” said Moyo.
Prosecuting, Mr Clemence Shawarira said Moyo set a trap at Streton Farm, Figtree area, on 19 December and caught a beast belonging to his boss Leon Van Vuuren.
He said when Moyo checked his snare later that day he found that he had caught a beast belonging to his employer and it was already dead.
Mr Shawarira said Moyo then cut off the head of the beast and removed the offals which he dumped in a hole and proceeded with the rest of the meat to his homestead.
He said another worker at the farm noticed that a beast was missing on the following day.
“A search was carried out and Moyo’s workmate discovered the head and offals hidden in a hole. He looked around the area and noticed some shoe prints and the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene,” said Mr Shawariwa.
He said police detectives followed the shoeprints but they disappeared in a bushy area.
He said police detectives then ordered all farm workers to produce their shoes for inspection and compared them with the prints which were spotted around the crime scene.
Mr Shawarira said the prints matched the shoes which Moyo had which resulted in his immediate arrest.
Moyo later confessed to have slaughtered the beast and stored the meat at his homestead.
Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa sentenced Moyo to nine years’ imprisonment.
