News / Regional
Man traps neighbour's cow, slapped with $200 fine
12 Jul 2015 at 09:23hrs | Views
A 73-YEAR-OLD villager from Mangwe has been slapped with a $200 fine for trapping a neighbour's cow valued at $700.
Ben Pipitho Sibanda of Maninji area set a trap along an animal path at a grazing area in the village which trapped a cow belonging to Sesulelo Ndlovu. Sibanda was convicted for the unlawful use of a class one trap by Plumtree magistrate Mr Livard Philemon.
He was ordered to pay a $200 or spend two months in prison in case of default.
In addition he was ordered to pay a $700 restitution fee towards Ndlovu.
He was granted time to pay after citing that he did not have that much money on him or at his homestead.
Sibanda told the court that he had set the trap with the hope to catch meat for his family to eat.
Prosecuting, Mr Elisha Mazorodze said Sibanda set the trap during the month of January.
"During the month on January Sibanda proceeded to Ngulubeni grazing land and he set a spring jaw trap along an animal path. On 3 February Sesulelo Ndlovu found her cow trapped there and it had already decomposed. Ndlovu informed the village head of the area who upon investigating discovered that the trap belonged to Sibanda," said Mr Mazorodze.
He said the matter was reported to the police resulting in Sibanda's arrest. The value of the trapped cow was $700.
In another incident, a 21-year-old herdman from Figtree area in Bulilima was fined $100 for hunting an animal on land belonging to Bulilima Rural District Council.
Musawenkosi Nxumalo was convicted of hunting an animal on any land by Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa.
He was ordered to pay a $100 fine or spend 30 days in prison.
In addition he was ordered to pay a $150 restitution fee to the local authority.
Prosecuting, Mr Clemence Shawarira said on 24 June some workers at the farm were on patrol when they heard some dogs barking.
He said they proceeded to inquire and found fresh blood on the ground at a bushy area.
"The farm workers followed the blood drops which led them to Nxumalo's homestead. They then informed their employer who reported the matter to the police and proceeded with them to Nxumalo's homestead.
"When the police arrived Nxumalo fled from his homestead. The police detectives searched the homestead and found 4 kilogrammes of fresh game meat," said Mr Shawarira.
He said Nxumalo escaped from his homestead and hid at a relative's homestead but was later arrested after police received a tip off from other villagers.
Ben Pipitho Sibanda of Maninji area set a trap along an animal path at a grazing area in the village which trapped a cow belonging to Sesulelo Ndlovu. Sibanda was convicted for the unlawful use of a class one trap by Plumtree magistrate Mr Livard Philemon.
He was ordered to pay a $200 or spend two months in prison in case of default.
In addition he was ordered to pay a $700 restitution fee towards Ndlovu.
He was granted time to pay after citing that he did not have that much money on him or at his homestead.
Sibanda told the court that he had set the trap with the hope to catch meat for his family to eat.
Prosecuting, Mr Elisha Mazorodze said Sibanda set the trap during the month of January.
"During the month on January Sibanda proceeded to Ngulubeni grazing land and he set a spring jaw trap along an animal path. On 3 February Sesulelo Ndlovu found her cow trapped there and it had already decomposed. Ndlovu informed the village head of the area who upon investigating discovered that the trap belonged to Sibanda," said Mr Mazorodze.
He said the matter was reported to the police resulting in Sibanda's arrest. The value of the trapped cow was $700.
In another incident, a 21-year-old herdman from Figtree area in Bulilima was fined $100 for hunting an animal on land belonging to Bulilima Rural District Council.
Musawenkosi Nxumalo was convicted of hunting an animal on any land by Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa.
He was ordered to pay a $100 fine or spend 30 days in prison.
In addition he was ordered to pay a $150 restitution fee to the local authority.
Prosecuting, Mr Clemence Shawarira said on 24 June some workers at the farm were on patrol when they heard some dogs barking.
He said they proceeded to inquire and found fresh blood on the ground at a bushy area.
"The farm workers followed the blood drops which led them to Nxumalo's homestead. They then informed their employer who reported the matter to the police and proceeded with them to Nxumalo's homestead.
"When the police arrived Nxumalo fled from his homestead. The police detectives searched the homestead and found 4 kilogrammes of fresh game meat," said Mr Shawarira.
He said Nxumalo escaped from his homestead and hid at a relative's homestead but was later arrested after police received a tip off from other villagers.
Source - sundaynews
