TWO suspected cattle rustlers from Chitungwiza were recently caught red-handed skinning two beasts they had stolen from a Marondera farmer.
by Jairos Saunyama
Temptation Dinhidza (38) and Robert Lisiya (34), however, denied the stocktheft charge yesterday when they appeared before Marondera magistrate Jabulani Mzinyathi during an inspection in loco at the complainant Sarirai Karimadondo’s home in Mari village.
State allegations are that on February 14 this year, the pair drove to Mari village armed with six knives and plastic bags.
They allegedly parked their car, a Honda Fit, about 300 metres away from Karimadondo’s cattle pen, took off their shoes and walked barefooted to the pen in the wee hours of the night.
It is reported that they tied two oxen valued at $1 600 and drove them about 350 metres into a nearby bush and slaughtered them. Karimadondo allegedly became suspicions when he heard some movements near his cattle pen and mobilised his neighbours who immediately swamped the area, forcing the suspects to flee under cover of darkness, leaving behind their car and other utensils.
The villagers then combed the area and recovered two carcases of Karimadondo’s cattle with some of the meat already loaded on the suspects’ car.
Police were immediately informed and launched a manhunt. The suspects were arrested that same night while walking barefoot towards Marondera and when police searched them, they recovered the vehicle’s car keys from one of the suspects.
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Police also recovered some clothes and three pairs of shoes in the suspects’ dumped car.
The pair was remanded in custody to today for continuation of trial.
Godfrey Makwanya prosecuted.
