16 Dec 2020

Two men of Zezana in Zimbabwe have been sentenced to five years in jail for stealing stock.

The duo; Vastman Ndou (48) and Pride Dube (36) faced a count of entering Botswana through ungazetted point and another of stealing stock which they pleaded guilty of.

When delivering the sentence, kgosi Keabetswe Mokgethi of Gobojango customary court said that he had considered the fact that the two men were first offenders on both counts.

On the first count of entering Botswana through ungazetted point, Kgosi Mokgethi cautioned and discharged the duo.

However, kgosi Mokgethi sentenced the Zimbabwean duo to five years behind bars on a count of stealing stock.

The particulars of the case are that Ndou, Dube and another man who was not before the court acted jointly to enter the country illegally and steal 13 cattle belonging to one Mr Dimakatso Patane of Podipedi ward in Bobonong. 

The commission of the said crime was at Lephokwe cattle posts in Mabolwe.

In their mitigation, Ndou pleaded for mercy and told the court that his life was threatened had he refused to undertake the stock theft mission. 

He also pleaded for lashing in place of prison so that he could be let off so that he could take care of his wife and children.

Ndou also told the courts that he participated in the theft because he was trying to fend for his family and pay for his children’s school fees.

For Dube, being taken to prison would result in his family suffering greatly. 

He pleaded that his mother was aged and survived on medication. 

Dube, who claimed to be farmer of four,  pleaded to be let free so he could care for his pregnant wife and children.

Prosecuting officer Sub Inspector Christopher Thapa submitted that the accused were nabbed on November 17 where a team of patrolling police officers, Botswana Defence Force officers and members of the community arrested them after they tried to flee the country.

Initially, the rustlers were three, but one managed to elude the team and make it back to Zimbabwe.

After the sentencing of the two cattle rustlers, Mr Patane expressed that he was happy  that the men were sent to jail. 

He was also happy that at last some thieves were nabbed to answer for the rife stock theft in the region. 

Mr Patane  sent his gratitude to the police, BDF officers and members of the community who patrolled the borderline against stock theft. ends