THE Zimbabwe Republic Police is urging farmers to prioritise branding their cattle for easy
identification in the event of them being stolen.
This comes after two Guruve farmers lost their beasts sometime last year.
The beasts have, however, since been recovered after the farmers managed to identify them
by their brands at a farm in Mvurwi.
Inspector Milton Mundembe, confirmed the incident on Monday saying the beasts were
found at a farm in Mvurwi and the rustlers were nabbed whilst their other accomplices are
still on the run.
He identified the rustlers as Tafirenyika Muzinde (49) and Digital Muzinde (24) of
Dzvukamanja Village, Admire Chitauro (19), Luke Chitauro (22) and Trymore Zvaraya (28)
of Kelstone Farm, Mvurwi.
He said that on 25 October 2022 in the morning Brain Mupinyuri (37) and Aleck Mupinyuri
(52) of Mupinyuri Village, Chief Chipuriro, Guruve, left their cattle grazing unattended in the
pastures in their village.
At around 5pm they went back to the pastures to collect their cattle for penning and
discovered that two black oxen were missing.
The complainants searched for the cattle in nearby villages but to no avail.
On 23 January 2023, ZRP Guruve received a tip-off of the issue and heard that the
Chitauro(s) and Zvaraya were in possession of the stolen beasts at their plots in Kelstone
Farm.
A team of police officers comprising of Sergeants Gomo, Ncube, Mapona and Constable
Chivige headed to Kelstone Farm in the company of the two complainants.
Upon arrival at the Chitauro’s homesteads, the complainants positively identified their cattle
tied to a tree.
Both accused persons were interviewed and confirmed that they received the animals from
Tafirenyika and Digital Muzinde, leading to their arrest and recovery of the stolen cattle.
The accused persons also confirmed that Zvaraya was also keeping the two other oxen at his
homestead.
They led the officers to his homestead, where they found him in possession of the two
mentioned black oxen.
Communities are supposed to join anti-stock theft committees to help police in fighting
livestock theft.
