Goat meat used in stealing car

A 35-year-old Harare man recently stole a Mutare man’s car after he had asked for permission to store his goat meat in the vehicle during a beer binge in the eastern boarder city.

Cosmas Ncube of Mufakose, Harare, allegedly asked for Gilbert Manyonga’s car keys so that he could put his goat meat in the former’s car. However, Ncube drove off with the vehicle. Luck ran out for Ncube as he was later arrested. He appeared in court facing charges of theft of a motor vehicle as defined in Section 113 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

Ncube appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Prisca Manhibi, who slapped him with a five-year jail term. Thurston Mubvumbi prosecuted. Mr Mubvumbi said: “On September 19, Manyonga drove his Toyota Noah to Matimba Business Centre in the peri-urban area of Mutare in the company of Nigel Mutepfa and Ncube.

“They started drinking beer and had braai. Ncube bought some goat meat for home consumption and asked Manyonga for his car keys so that he could put the meat away. However, he went to the vehicle and drove off unnoticed. A few minutes later, Manyonga checked on Ncube and discovered that he was nowhere to be seen. His car had also vanished. Manyonga made a police report.”

On September 27, police in Mutare received information that Ncube had been arrested in Bikita for disorderly conduct.

“On September 28, Manyonga proceeded to Bikita and positively identified Ncube. ZRP

“The suspect led detectives to Chiredzi where the stolen vehicle was recovered. Manyonga positively identified the vehicle through the chassis and registration number,” said Mubvumbi.

The vehicle is worth US$3 800.