Sydney Mubaiwa

MIDLANDS BUREAU

GWERU – Midlands Police has arrested four cattle rustlers and recovered 43 stolen beasts in Zhombe district.

Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the matter. He said the four alleged rustlers were arrested on two separate occasions following tip-offs.

“We arrested Vhelaphi Mazwi (34), Handsome Sibanda (28) and Nqobile Dube (38) in Gweru while Melusi Ndlovu (21) of Mlelwa Village under Chief Malisa was arrested in Zhombe,” he said.

He said Police is appealing for information leading to the arrest of three other suspects only identified as Chopper, Sama Du, Thembani and Abraham Ndlovu (24) who evaded arrest in Zhombe.

Police in Gweru received a tip-off that some men were selling meat from buckets at Woodlands Phase 1 Shopping Centre.

Investigations reviewed that the meat had been transported from Sibanda’s house in Raylands in a white Honda Fit to Paul Makosa’s home in Mkoba. The meat was given to Tatenda Tagwireyi who operates a butchery in Mkoba 18.

The officers’ raided Sibanda’s house and recovered dried meat and pieces of wire used to trap cattle.

Frank Nevheya (50) of Golela Village in Manoti, Gokwe lost six cattle and he filed a Police report.

Police investigations discovered 43 cattle at Melusi and Abraham’s kraal. The brothers did not have any cattle a few weeks earlier. Nevheya identified his cattle in the kraal and Melusi was arrested whilst Abraham escaped.

The remaining 37 cattle were stolen from areas around Zhombe and Gokwe and Police is urging those with missing cattle to come and identified their cattle.