The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa Correspondent
ONE of the two Nyanga cattle rustlers who stole and sold a fellow villager’s heifer was recently slapped with a nine-year jail sentence.
His accomplice is now awaiting trial.
Charles Marongedze (42) of Chinagana Village under Chief Saunyama was convicted on his own guilty plea when he appeared before Nyanga magistrate, Ms Anniah Ndiraya, facing stock theft charges.
Marongedze begged for leniency, saying he committed the offence out of ignorance.
He said as he was on his way to conduct his illegal mining activities, he saw the beast and decided to sell it.
“Your Worship, I immediately cut my journey short to find a buyer for the beast,” he said.
However, Marongedze’s alleged accomplice, Luke Kunyetu of Mafara Village under Chief Katerere pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded out of custody to June 9.
Kunyetu insisted that he has never seen the beast in question.
He claimed that he was a suspect due to the fact that he is Marongedze’s friend.
Prosecuting, Mr Cuthbert Bhosha said on March 12 in Chinagana Village, Marongedze and Kunyetu allegedly collaborated and stole a black and white heifer from Ms Rhoda Tsabasvi, a widow.
“Marongedze stole the heifer and took it to Kunyetu’s homestead, where they locked it up in his kraal. They later went to Shingirai Kose’s homestead where they met his wife and told her that they were selling a beast.
“When they came back on March 17, they found Kose at home. Kose negotiated with the pair until they agreed on a price of US$170 for the beast,” said Mr Bhosha.
Sometime in April, police were tipped that the stolen beast had been spotted in Chinagana Village.
Police acted swiftly and proceeded to the village. Their investigations led to the arrest of the pair.
The stolen beast, valued at $250, was recovered.
