BINGA — A 32-year-old man from Manjolo area who broke into his neighbour’s fowl run and stole five chickens claiming he was about to starve to death has been slapped with a two-month jail term for stocktheft.
Joshua Musaka was convicted on his own plea of guilty to stocktheft when he appeared before Binga magistrate Stephen Ndlovu.
The court heard that between October and November the complainant Nomayi Mwembe (69) left home going to a funeral wake.
Musaka took advantage of her absence, broke into her fowl run and stole five chickens.
The court heard he sold four of them to villagers. Mwembe discovered the theft on her return and later established Musaka was responsible.
She made a report to the police, leading to his arrest.
On being asked in court why he stole the chickens, Musaka said: “I was starving and the only option I thought I had was to steal the chickens.” Bruce Maphosa prosecuted.
