Man gets 14 years behind bars for stock theft

A 37-YEAR-OLD farm worker who stole six herd of cattle and sold them to a fellow villager was yesterday handed a 14 year jail sentence for stocktheft.

Gift Ndlovu, from Mabhokodo Farm in Merryland, Insuza appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushowe and pleaded guilty to the charge.

In passing sentence, magistrate Mushore said the court took into consideration that Ndlovu was a first time offender but the gravity of the matter deserved a custodial sentence.

"The court took into consideration that you are a father with a family but nonetheless cases of stocktheft are on the increase and deserve a custodial sentence as a warning to would be offenders. You are therefore sentenced to 14 years imprisonment," said Mushowe.

Prosecuting, Simbarashe Manyiwa told the court that between March and June this year, Ndlovu and another accomplice Vusisizwe Mabhena, who is being tried separately as he pleaded not guilty, connived to steal cattle at Mabhokodo Farm.

On different occasions, the two stole cattle and drove them to Mabhena's homestead where they branded them by making ear cuts before recording them into his stock card.

After searching for his cattle, Admos Sibanda found them at Mabhena's homestead.

On June 15, he led police officers to where they were being kept and Mabhena implicated Ndlovu.
Sibanda positively identified the herd by the brand mark "CM".

The value of the stolen beasts is $3,200.

Although Ndlovu pleaded guilty, Mabhena denied the charges and claimed that he bought the cattle which include three heifers, a steer bull, a female calf and a hornless cow.

Mabhena will be back in court for trial on Monday.