NINE men from Fort Rixon have been arraigned before the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court charged with nine counts of stocktheft involving 34 cattle which they alleged slaughtered before selling the meat.
Ishmael Sibanda (31), Justin Zijena (45), Josphat Makuvaza (48), Piraishe Mandende (35), Peter Tiziri (44), Trust Ndlovu (34), Justice Zhou (35), Collinmore Kudakwashe (36) and Sabelo Moyo (45) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Nomalanga Maphosa last week.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded in custody to December 3 this year.
Sibanda, in his plea of not guilty, said he was a cattle buyer and he did not steal any cattle because he was cleared by police to trade.
Zijena said he bought the cattle from Sibanda that had clearance letters.
Moyo said he only saw Sibanda bringing five cows.
The rest of the accused pleaded not guilty claiming that they did not know who Sibanda was.
It is the State’s case that on June 14 this year, Kudakwashe Shoko (33) lost six cattle to thieves who slaughtered four of them while two escaped back home with altered earmarks. Isaac Mada lost two cattle on June 30.
The court also heard that on July 21, Benjamin Mukwena lost three cattle while Nikadzino Gumpo lost two beasts on July 30 this year and Jester Tizvigoni lost six cattle on October 5.
On the same day, Mathias Kutsire discovered that his two cattle were stolen Pharaoh Mangisi lost a similar number of beasts to the same group.
It was also reported that on October 11 this year, the group stole six cattle belonging to Oliver Chiropa in Chatada village before slaughtering them and loading the carcasses onto Zijena’s motor vehicle.
The matter came to light after the villagers caught the accused persons with Chiropa’s live cattle before a report was made to the police leading to their arrest.
The court also heard that on September 19 this year, Owen Konzayi discovered that his five cattle, valued at US$1 900, had been stolen from his pen.