Kezi man in jail for stocktheft

A 61-YEAR-OLD man from Kezi under Chief Bango will languish in prison for 12 years after he was convicted of stealing a heifer and a steer from local villagers.

Japhet Dube (61) of Makwati Village in Kezi pleaded not guilty but was sentenced by Gwanda magistrate, Mr Maphios Willard Moyo to 12 years in prison.

Passing sentence, Mr Moyo said he had considered all the mitigations that Dube gave and that he was an elderly first offender who has two minor children and five orphaned children.

“However, stocktheft is a very serious offence whose statutory mandatory sentence is provided for in this Act. A departure from that sentence could only be done where there are special circumstances in which in this case no special circumstances are in existence. In both counts you are sentenced to nine years which sums up to 18 years, in which six are suspended for five years on condition that you don’t commit the same offence involving stock, the total that you will serve is 12 years,” said Mr Moyo.

In his defense statement Dube, through his lawyer Mr Thompson Mabhikwa of the T. J Mabhikwa & Partners had denied stealing the beasts arguing that he was framed by the villagers.

The court heard that in April last year, Dube stole a heifer from Solomon Ndlovu and a steer from Alfred Maseko.

Prosecuting, Mr Takunda Mafudze said Maseko penned his 39 cattle for grazing at Mangwe ranch grazing area.

On an unknown date, Dube went to the pastures and stole the steer which was not branded.

He took the steer to his homestead where he branded and earmarked it. Maseko informed the dip attendant that his steer was missing before seeing it on 4 September at Dube’s homestead.

It is alleged that on 25 August last year, Ndlovu penned his heifer which had no branding or earmarks for grazing at Gillman grazing area.

Again Dube went on to steal the heifer from the mentioned area. Ndlovu discovered it at Dube’s homestead.

The two reported the cases to the police leading to Dube’s arrest.