News / Regional
80-year-old thief gets 36 years behind bars
09 Jan 2013 at 21:42hrs | Views
An 80-year-old notorious stock thief from Gwanda Daniel Makhalima has been imprisoned for 36 years for stealing 72 cattle worth US$36 000 in and around Beitbridge district. Makhalima stole the livestock
which he found grazing at Dodieburn Ranch in West Nicholson and was arrested during an anti-stock theft operation in Beitbridge district.
A total of 100 cattle were recovered during the same operation.
Makhalima of Ngoma village under Chief Marupi in Gwanda District denied four counts of stock theft but, Ms Gwineth Drawo recently convicted him following a marathon trial.
He was sentenced to nine years for each of the four counts.
Makhalima had been jointly charged with his 14 year-old son who was later cleared of the charges for lack of evidence.
Prosecutor Mr Jabulani Mberesi told the court that between August 2011 and March last year, Makhalima and his son connived with Polite Ndlovu, Witness Moyo and Tshengu Moyo, who are still at large, and went to Dodieburn Ranch in West Nicholson.
They then spotted the complainants' cattle grazing and drove the animals to their homesteads in Ngoma where they penned them.
Upon arrival at Ngoma, the quartet also dehorned the animals and tampered with brand marks.
Makhalima ran out of lucky when police descended on his homestead following a tip off and recovered nine cattle worth US$4 500.
He later led the police to a kraal where he had penned some of the cattle in his field.
His other three accomplices disappeared soon after getting the news about his arrest.
The stolen beasts were later identified by their owners.
which he found grazing at Dodieburn Ranch in West Nicholson and was arrested during an anti-stock theft operation in Beitbridge district.
A total of 100 cattle were recovered during the same operation.
Makhalima of Ngoma village under Chief Marupi in Gwanda District denied four counts of stock theft but, Ms Gwineth Drawo recently convicted him following a marathon trial.
He was sentenced to nine years for each of the four counts.
Makhalima had been jointly charged with his 14 year-old son who was later cleared of the charges for lack of evidence.
They then spotted the complainants' cattle grazing and drove the animals to their homesteads in Ngoma where they penned them.
Upon arrival at Ngoma, the quartet also dehorned the animals and tampered with brand marks.
Makhalima ran out of lucky when police descended on his homestead following a tip off and recovered nine cattle worth US$4 500.
He later led the police to a kraal where he had penned some of the cattle in his field.
His other three accomplices disappeared soon after getting the news about his arrest.
The stolen beasts were later identified by their owners.
Source - Zimpapers
