Chikombedzi man jailed for 9 years for stock-theft.

By Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge 03 March 2011

A 27 year old Chokombedzi man was yesterday slapped with 9 years imprisonment for stealing six herds of cattle from a Beitbridge villager.

Timothy Baloyi of Chiromwa village, headman Nemashe under Chief Sengwe in Chikombedzi had initially pleaded not guilty to one count of stock theft but Beitbridge magistrate, Mrs. Auxilia Chiumburu convicted him on the strength of overwhelming evidence provided by the state.

The prosecutor, Mr. Muchiwande Sithole told the court that sometime in February last year, the complainant released his 6 herds of cattle into the grazing lands in Chabili area.

He further alleged that on the same day, the accused went to the grazing lands where he drove away the six herds of cattle to his village in Chikombedzi.

Later that day the complainant went tracked his cattle but could not locate them.

On the 7^Th day of April in the same year, the complainant received a tip off that Baloyi was in possession of his cattle.

He then made a report to the police leading to the subsequent arrest of Baloyi. The stolen cattle were in turn recovered from Baloyi.