Zanu-PF Councillor Arrested in Cattle Theft Scandal: Accused of Selling Stolen Livestock to Local Abattoir
Zanu-PF Councillor Arrested in Cattle Theft Scandal
In a surprising turn of events, Sindiso Ndlovu, a Zanu-PF councillor from Ward 17 in Insiza North, was arrested for cattle theft and selling them to Esigodini Abattoir.
Ndlovu, aged 40, along with his co-accused, Buhle Nkomazana, 29, appeared before Magistrate Talent Phiri at Filabusi Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Both were granted bail of ZWL$500,000 each and are scheduled to appear in court again on December 14, 2023.
Zanu-PF Councillor Arrested For Cattle Theft Details
According to the State papers presented by Shepherd Moyo, Ndlovu is accused of stealing a cow and an ox from Richard Dube’s farm. Between November 10 and 13, 2023, Ndlovu allegedly took a brown cow with a white bottom and tail, branded DAL3K3, and a brindie ox with a spot on the face, dehorned, and not branded from Dube’s farm. Ndlovu then kept the stolen cattle at his residence before selling them to Nkomazana.
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False Documentation and Sales
A third accused, who is currently at large, used a ZRP form with serial number 4006573 to clear the stolen cattle, quoting Ndlovu’s brandmark on the form even though the stolen cattle did not bear that mark. Additionally, the clearance form falsely indicated that all the stolen cattle had the same earmark, despite having different earmarks.
Subsequently, Ndlovu allegedly sold the stolen cattle to Esigodini Abattoir. The police received a tip-off during an unrelated investigation, leading them to Ndlovu. Upon interviewing Nkomazana, who had bought the cattle from Ndlovu and sold them at Esigodini Abattoir, the police recovered hides at the abattoir with Dube’s brandmarks. Onias Dube, the receiving officer at the abattoir, implicated Nkomazana, who then pointed to Ndlovu, resulting in their arrest.
