Wife, mother break down in court after man gets 9 years for stock theft

THERE was drama in court yesterday when the wife and mother of a Beitbridge man who stole four cattle worth $1 200 from a farm in Gwanda, yelled and broke down in tears when the man was sentenced to an effective nine years in jail.

The old woman and her daughter-in-law were later joined by the convicted man's sister as they wept uncontrollably soon after the magistrate had handed the sentence.

Melusi Moyo (25), of Dendele Village under Chief Sitauze area in Beitbridge had pleaded not guilty to contravening a section of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act (stocktheft) but was convicted by Beitbridge provincial magistrate Mrs Auxilia Chiumburu.

The prosecutor, Mr Foster Abeki, said on 10 December last year, Moyo went to Auckly Farm in Gwanda District and stole four cattle comprising two heifers and two steers belonging to Mr Misheck Nyathi.

He drove the animals to his homestead in Dendele where he rebranded them and tampered with the earmarks.

The offence came to light after the complainant failed to locate his cattle prompting him to make a follow-up.

Mr Nyathi found his cattle penned at Moyo's field and he reported the matter to the police.

Moyo was arrested and three of the stolen cattle were recovered.

However, one valued at $300 was not recovered.