A SUSPECTED three-man cattle rustling syndicate from Buhera appeared before Mutare magistrate Sekai Chiundura yesterday charged with stealing over 100 cattle from villagers in different part of Manicaland province between 2012 and 2013.
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The trio of Boniface Zimurenyika (44), Pedzisai Mabvuke (65) and Tendai Mabvuke (27), denied all the 35 counts of stocktheft and will get to know its face on August 28 when judgment would be delivered over the matter levelled against them when they appeared in court yesterday.
The court heard that the suspects, who have since denied all the 35 stocktheft counts levelled against them, targeted cattle left unattended in the grazing areas or those left in the pens.
In count one which allegedly occurred on September 2012 at Tafamarime village in Buhera, the suspects pounced on Luka Nendaga’s seven heads of cattle at Tama village’s grazing area and drove them away.
However, one of the beasts was later recovered from the suspects.
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In another count, which allegedly happened on February 15 2013 at Gadzai village, the accused stole five cattle belonging to Nyarai Musomekwa.
Three of the beasts were later recovered in Bikita and Gutu.
In another count that allegedly happened on May 1 2013 at Hamutyi village, the accused went to the grazing area where the complainant, Daniel Mutawu, had left his cattle grazing.
They reportedly stole six cattle, but three of them were recovered.
On May 12 last year, they allegedly stole four cattle from Piyo Rest Kennedy and struck again on April 28 where they stole 13 cattle from another villager. Marlevn Musarurwa represented the State.