Chipinge Magistrate Sentences Two Mozambican Cattle Rustlers ,To 14 Years Each In Jail

CHIPINGE: Two Mozambican cattle rustlers who were causing sleepless nights to local villagers were Monday caged to 14 years each after they were convicted of stealing four beasts.

Khozani Mtisi, 21, and Moses Masiya, 36, both from Bakonye village, Mozambique, pleaded guilty on their own plea when they appeared before Chipinge magistrate  Noah Gwatidzo facing stock theft charges as defined in section 114(2)(a)(i)(ii) of the Criminal Law (Codification Reform) Act chapter 9:23.

Public prosecutor, Edith Phiri, told the court that on August 23 around 1900 hours, the two acting in cahoots went to Fairgreen farm grazing area.

When they arrived, they connived and stole four beasts and went away unnoticed.

On August 26, around 0700 hours, Mutisi and Masiya were noticed by Josiah Mhlanga of village Q Musirizwi, Chief Gwenzi, Chipinge driving the cattle heading towards Mozambique.

Mhlanga became suspicious and mobilised other villagers who then tracked down the two and managed to apprehend them before they crossed into Mozambique near village Q Musirizwi.

All the four beasts were recovered. The pair was then handed to Grass Flats Police post where the beasts were positively identified by their owners.

Total value of stolen beasts is worth $3 200 and all were recovered.

Local villagers have lost a number of their livestock to Mozambican cattle rustlers who use unauthorised entry points to commit offences in Zimbabwe. source-newzimbabwe