Ex-Zanu-PF councillor jailed 14 years for stock theft

Former Zanu-PF Insiza Ward 17 Councillor Sindiso Ndlovu, alongside accomplice Buhle Nkomazana, received an effective 14-year prison sentence each on Friday after being convicted of stock theft. Their co-accused, Onias Dube, was fined US$400 or ordered to serve a two-year jail term if the fine is not paid.
Ndlovu (40), Nkomazana (28) - an employee at Break and Turn Butchery in Nkankezi - and Dube, who works at Esigodini Abattoirs, faced three counts of stock theft. Despite denying the charges before Filabusi resident magistrate Abednicho Ndebele, overwhelming evidence led to their conviction on two counts, with the third count dismissed.

According to the court, Ndlovu had been selling cattle he claimed to own without recording the transactions on his stock card, complicating the tracking of sales. He allegedly sold stolen cattle to Esigodini Abattoirs, where complainants later identified the hides of their slaughtered animals.

The court heard that Ndlovu stole two cattle from livestock farmer Richard Dube at Plot 93 Ebenezer Farm in Filabusi, clearing the cattle with local police before transporting them for slaughter. In a separate incident, the trio reportedly stole two cattle from Sinovuyo Ndlovu in the Insiza grazing lands. The third count, which was dismissed, involved the alleged theft of seven cattle from Shadreck Malinga at Plot 3 Winnfred Farm in Filabusi.

The convictions highlight ongoing concerns around stock theft in rural Zimbabwe, as authorities seek to protect livestock farmers from theft that threatens their livelihoods.