14 stolen cattle recovered in Binga

POLICE have recovered 14 head of cattle worth $4,900 in Binga suspected to have been stolen from a grazing area in Siachilaba leading to the arrest of a man, 35, caught driving them.

Matabeleland North police acting police spokesperson Sergeant Namatirai Mashona said Nqobizitha Dube of Tatatongwe village under Chief Pashu in Binga was seen driving the cattle heading to his home.

She said the cattle were stolen from Kaleya grazing area and driven to Sianzyundu-Mabobolo area.

"On 8 June around midday, a tip off was received from an informant to the effect that he had seen a male adult driving a herd of 14 cattle in a bushy area at Bunsiwa village under Chief Siachilaba in Binga which he suspected to have been stolen.

"Police officers from Siachilaba post teamed up with the informant and other villagers before they tracked the spoor for about 20 km until they spotted Dube in a bushy area in Sianzyundu-Mabobolo area.

"They managed to arrest him and recover the 14 cattle," said Sgt Mashona.

After Dube was interrogated, he revealed that he had found the cattle unattended grazing along the Sebungwe River and he drove them away with the intention of taking them to his homestead in Tinde area.

The owner of the cattle, Killion Mudimba, of Kaleya village, Binga was located and he positively identified his cattle valued at $4,900.

Dube is soon expected to appear at the Binga Magistrates Court facing 14 counts of stock theft.

Meanwhile, an Insuza man, Xolisani Nkomo, 30, has been arrested for stealing five chickens from a homestead in Hlabangani village on the night of June 5.

The owner of the chickens, Olippa Ncube, discovered the crime the following morning.

She tracked shoe prints around her fowl run and they led to Nkomo's homestead and he was arrested.