Brothers jailed for stock theft

TWO brothers from Gandanzara area of Makoni District were recently jailed nine years each for stealing three cattle.

The Chilimba brothers, Lancelot (31) and Fortunate (28) of Ngorima Village, Gandanzara, were convicted on their own guilty pleas when they appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Langton Carter.

They committed the offences between August and September.

Appearing for the State, Mr Thurston Mubvumbi said in the first count which happened on August 16, the brothers went to Penhalonga, stole an ox and went away unnoticed.

The slaughtered it and sold the meat to a butchery in Chikanga, Mutare.

The total value of the stolen beast was $335 000 and nothing was recovered.

Mr Mubvumbi said on September 21, the Chilimba brothers went to Penhalonga again, stole another beast and slaughtered it.

The owner discovered the theft the following morning and made a report at Old Mutare Police Base.

The ox was valued at $366 000 and only the hide was recovered from the place where it was slaughtered.

Mr Mubvumbi said on September 22, the brothers pounced again at another homestead where they stole a beast.

“There were four cattle in the cattle kraal. Lancelot and Fortunate drove out one of them. The remaining cattle bellowed and this prompted the owner to wake up and investigate what was happening. He discovered that one of his cattle was missing. After a while, the ox came running back to the kraal with a rope tied around its horns.

“The following morning, the owner followed some shoeprints from his kraal and they led him to Grange Road. He discovered some struggle marks of the two accused persons and the ox. He made a police report at ZRP Old Mutare Base,” said Mr Mubvumbi.

On the same day, detectives who were investigating the previously reported stock theft cases received information that some people had tried to steal an ox the previous night.

Investigations led to the arrest of the two brothers. They led the police to the crime scenes for indications.

The Chilimba brothers admitted committing the offences and said they wanted to use the proceeds of theft to take care of their families.