Darlington Kanyongo
ZVISHAVANE – Crispen Matongo (33) has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by magistrate Archie Wochiunga after stealing an ox from an 80 year old man.
Matongo was charged for contravening Section 134 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which defines stock theft.
It was the State’s case that on May 22 this year, Matongo stole an oxen belonging to Muchengete Svusvu (80) of Mhondongori village under Chief Wedza in Zvishavane.
The incident happened in the Mhondongori grazing area near Mimosa Mine where headman Luckson Sibanda was herding cattle.
The headman fell asleep and his cattle went astray.
Matongo together with his accomplices found Svusvu’s ox and slaughtered it before loading the meat onto a Toyota FunCargo vehicle leaving behind the head and carcass.
The remains were discovered the following day and a police report was made.
Matongo then approached Esau Gwatipedza who owns a butchery at Escro Shopping Centre to arrange for storage of the meat as he sought for customers.
Dube informed the police leading to Matongo’s arrest.local