News / National
Tobacco theif appears in court
14 Mar 2018 at 19:54hrs | Views
A 25-year-old Mvurwi man has been arraigned before the court for stealing 17 340 plants of the golden leaf from his employer's field.
Cephas Musaidzi of Ruia B Plot 1 farm appeared before Guruve Resident Magistrate Shingirayi Mutero accused of reaping tobacco plants worth $ 934, 08 from his employer Stella Zhakata (37) who was contracted by the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB).
Public prosecutor Ms Spiwe Makarichi told the court that sometime on 17 February 2008 the complainant allegedly saw a group of people reaping her tobacco at the fields without her consent and did not confront the accused but made a police report at Mvurwi Police leading to the arrest of the accused.
However in his defence the accused alleged that he was given a portion of land by the complainant to farm his own tobacco as payment of the work he was doing in Zhakata's tobacco filed.
"The complainant is simply being jealousy that my portion has ripened healthily first before hers and have even chased me away from her homestead forcing me to seek refuge from unknown neighbours", said the accused.
It is further alleged that the accused was requested by Stella from Rusape to come and assist her in tobacco farming since he has experience in farming and it was their agreement that he would farm his own tobacco as payment for the field work.
Cephas Musaidzi of Ruia B Plot 1 farm appeared before Guruve Resident Magistrate Shingirayi Mutero accused of reaping tobacco plants worth $ 934, 08 from his employer Stella Zhakata (37) who was contracted by the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB).
Public prosecutor Ms Spiwe Makarichi told the court that sometime on 17 February 2008 the complainant allegedly saw a group of people reaping her tobacco at the fields without her consent and did not confront the accused but made a police report at Mvurwi Police leading to the arrest of the accused.
"The complainant is simply being jealousy that my portion has ripened healthily first before hers and have even chased me away from her homestead forcing me to seek refuge from unknown neighbours", said the accused.
It is further alleged that the accused was requested by Stella from Rusape to come and assist her in tobacco farming since he has experience in farming and it was their agreement that he would farm his own tobacco as payment for the field work.
Source - Byo24News
