Rutendo Chitore
GWERU – Police recently arrested an elderly man in connection with stock theft after five cattle that had been stolen from Madigane village under Chief Sogwala on May 16 were recovered at a local abattoir.
Circumstances are that on the May 16, the suspect, Samson Mpofu (72) of Guduza village under Chief Sogwala, went to Maboleni Police Station seeking assistance to clear five herd of cattle.
The suspect was in possession of a valid animal movement permit from the veterinary department.
The suspect told the police that the cattle were already at an abattoir in Redcliff but the sale could not proceed since he did not have police clearance.
Suspicious police officers then took the suspect to the abattoir were he positively identified the cattle, leading to his arrest.
Meanwhile, police have urged members of the public to report any suspicious cattle movement, and have also urged abattoirs to make sure that cattle that are sold to them have been properly cleared.
Upon conviction, stock theft charges warrant a mandatory nine years imprisonment per each stolen beast.
