Ex-soldier in court for ‘stealing’ $18 536 meat

A FORMER soldier from Bulawayo allegedly broke into a butchery twice and stole meat worth $18 536.

Tafadzwa Mahlahla (35) from Pumula East suburb, who was based at Imbizo Barracks in Bulawayo before retirement, was arrested after he had allegedly opened a mini-butchery to sell the loot.

Mahlahla pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful entry and theft charge before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Urgent Vundla.

The magistrate remanded him in custody to November 30 for continuation of trial.

Mahlahla said the meat was for a funeral. “I bought the meat from Sindiso Moyo for a funeral that was at our place. I didn’t steal it,” he said.

For the State, Ms Sithembiso Moyo said on June 27 and September 23 this year, Mahlahla allegedly broke into Mr Prince Tshuma’s butchery at night and stole meat.

A SERIAL land fraudster has appeared in court for allegedly defrauding eleven home seekers of more than $4 000 and US$200 after pretending to be a village head selling plots and residential stands in Kensington on the outskirts of Bulawayo.

Obvious Nyika (33) whose residential address was not provided, duped the home seekers between April 2016 and May this year.

Nyika was not asked to plead to eleven counts of fraud when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Nomasiko Ndlovu. He was remanded in custody to November 4.

Nyika allegedly allocated plots and residential stands measuring 50 to 100m2 knowing that the land belonged to MacDonald Bricks.

He told his victims that he was selling the stands at

“On the first count, the accused person broke into Empire Butchery using an unknown object to gain entrance into the shop and stole 70kg of beef, 62,3 kg of chicken, 45kg of sausages, 30 kg of liver, 24kg of tripe, 12kg of lungs, 15kg of chicken feet, 18kg of oxtail and 22kg of gizzards worth $7 740 and went away,” she said. “Count two, on September 23 at night, the accused person used the same method of breaking into the shop and stole 80kg of beef meat, 17kg of chicken cuts, 25kg of sausages, 15kgs of liver, 25kg of lungs, 100 plastic bags and two white trays all worth a combined $10 792 and went away.”

Ms Moyo said on September 24, police received a tip-off that Mahlahla had opened a mini butchery at his place. “Upon arrival, they found the gates and doors locked. They gained entry into the house where they found the accused person busy packing meat into small packs and arrested him,” she said.

The total value of the stolen property is $ 18 532 and property worth $ 1 040 was recovered. — @ sharonbuwe affordable prices to low income earners.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said between April 2016 and May this year, Nyika allegedly sold the plots and stands for varius amonths.

In the first count, Nyika told Ms Thandazile Zandile Sibanda-Midzi that he was the owner of plot 6B in Kensington.

“The complainant showed interest in the plot and was asked to pay $350 through Ecocash so that she could be allocated a piece of land. The complainant sent the money and was allocated a piece of land which she developed,” said the prosecutor.

Nyika allegedly used the same method to dupe the other ten victims on separate occasions selling them the pieces of land. On May 14 this year, MacDonald Bricks demolished the complainants’ illegal structures.

The victims reported the case to the police leading to Nyika’s arrest. — @zinyuke98

Serial fraudster in court for ‘defrauding’ 11 home seekers