A 25-year-old Zhombe man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for stealing a heifer valued at US$500.
Brighton Ngwenya was convicted by the Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court following his arrest for stock theft committed in January this year.
Prosecutors told the court that on January 21, 2026, Ngwenya, who resides in Mudzingwa village, stole the heifer from a 47-year-old villager’s kraal in Mkhuhlane village under the cover of darkness.
The theft came to light the following morning when the complainant discovered that one of his cattle was missing from the herd. Efforts to locate the animal proved fruitless.
On February 2, Ngwenya allegedly attempted to sell the stolen heifer to another villager.
The prospective buyer became suspicious and alerted the owner.
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The complainant rushed to the scene and positively identified the animal as his property.
A report was subsequently made to the police, leading to Ngwenya’s arrest and prosecution.
In passing sentence, the court underscored the seriousness of stock theft, describing it as a rampant offence that undermines rural livelihoods and farming communities.