Village head steals goat to feed family

A VILLAGE head from Tsholotsho has been arrested for allegedly stealing a goat, claiming his family missed meat.

The village head for Magodola village, Amashirt Sibanda (66), blamed evil spirits for causing him to commit the crime.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said following a tip-off, police investigations led to Sibanda's arrest.

A police source said Sibanda admitted eating meat from the goat and part of its carcass was recovered at his homestead.

"Police recovered the carcass and about half of it had already been eaten. Sibanda admitted to the crime saying he had found the goat trapped on a 'foot-hold' trap and was tempted to take it and prepare it for his family because they missed meat," said the source.

"He said it had been a while since his family ate meat and evil spirits told him it was fine to take the goat and share with his family. He claimed someone was actually trapping animals because he had just bumped onto the goat caught on a neatly set trap in the bush," said the source.

A villager, who only identified himself as Dewa, said the village head had been stealing livestock for some time.

"We can't watch someone continue with a bad habit while we do nothing. We heard a rumour that he had done it again after someone found him skinning the goat. This angered us because he is supposed to be a problem solver in the community."

"We informed a police officer who stays in our community who investigated and he was arrested after evidence was found and he admitted committing the crime," he said.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment.