3 denied bail over cattle rustling

Zim Now Writer

Three suspects on Friday appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate Shepherd Munjanja facing two counts of cattle rustling and another for malicious damage to property.

The accused identified as Cain Chimanga, 30, Marvellous Chikandiwa, 26, and Passmore Taderera, 25, were denied bail and remanded in custody.

The three were arrested after terrorising a local dairy farm in Chinhoyi.

Prosecutor Marceline Mudzongo alleges that in July this year, the trio or one of them drove an in-calf dairy cow belonging to farmer John Alexander Crawford of Portlet Estates in Chinhoyi and slaughtered it.

On the second count, the court heard that on August 19, 2023 and at the same farm, the accused persons unlawfully drove two cows from the paddocks and slaughtered it.

They transported the carcasses to a house in Chinhoyi, where they were later busted by police following a tip-off.

On the third count, it is alleged the trio struck a cow on the right knee and stabbed another beast on its left side of the stomach, intending to kill them using a homemade sword.

The prosecution argues that accused persons acted unlawfully.