A 44-YEAR-OLD Zvishavane farmer, who allegedly stole 48 cattle from various farmers in Lalapanzi, on Thursday appeared before Mvuma magistrate Constance Mutandwa facing six counts of stock theft.
Tinodakufa Hove of Grandville Farm in Zvishavane was remanded in custody to October 10 for trial.
According to court papers, between July 2021 and July 2023, Hove would steal the beasts, which were grazing in the fields before driving them to his farm in Zvishavane.
On count one, in July 2021, Hove allegedly stole seven cattle belonging to Benedict Mugari (81) of Nantes Village in Gwanza, Lalapanzi, and drove them to his farm.
Using the same modus operandi, on March 29,2022, the accused stole seven cattle at Farm M24 Tokwe in Lalapanzi belonging to Methias Roperesu.
The court also heard that on June 24, 2022, the accused stole seven cattle at Nantes Village belonging to Collen Tobaiwa. In the same month the accused allegedly stole 12 beasts belonging to Elliot Matumbu of Farm 4, Gwanza in Lalapanzi and nine cattle belonging to Nomsa Munyimi.
His luck ran out on July 25 when he stole Brenda Mushava’s seven cattle but was intercepted by a group of villagers who demanded him to prove that the cattle belonged to him.
Hove, however, fled from the scene, but the villagers gave chase and apprehended him before handing him over to the police.
Takudzwa Mutyawaviri prosecuted.
Source Newsday
