By Meditation Mposi
Branding cattle proved key with a Chiredzi woman reuniting with her missing cattle after three months of searching owing to a distinctive brandmark they had.
The cattle went missing in Buffalo Ranch, Triangle and the owner suspected that they had been stolen whereas they had strayed to another area.
Masvingo acting Provincial Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Masauso Patinyu confirmed the development and applauded members of the public for providing information which led to the recovery of the missing cattle, urging cattle owners to brand their cattle so that they can be easily tracked.
“I confirm the recovery of five missing cattle in Triangle. I applaud members of the public for supplying information which led to the recovery of the cattle. As police we urge all cattle owners to brand their cattle for easy identification and recovery”, said Patinyu.
Circumstances are that Tsitsi Kusivara (57) of Buffalo Ranch, Triangle released her cattle sometime in August to the grazing fields with no one looking after them. Since that day the cattle never returned home and she made a police report.
On November 4, police got information that the missing cattle were in a certain village and with aid of the brand, the police recovered the cattle.
The head that was valued at US$1 000 consisted of one black calf, two brown heifers and two cows and three of them had a brand mark fh56.
In a separate case, police arrested Brighton Mudiwa (19) from, Chikuza Village, Triangle who had stolen seven cattle from his former employer Pepukai Zimusi.
After his cattle went missing, Zimusi reported the case and the police received information to the effect that Mudiwa was seen in possession of seven cattle in Gwerima area.
Asked by the police, Mudiwa alleged that Zimusi had given him the cattle to sell.
The brand marks on six of his cattle H51 of Nhaka Diptank made it easy to identify them.
All the cattle were recovered and Mudiwa has since appeared in court where he was sentenced to nine years behind bars.
