Two Men Jailed Nine Years Each For Slaughtering Botswana Cow

 

Two men from Guyu, Matabeleland South, were on Tuesday sentenced to nine years in prison each by the Gwanda Magistrates’ Court after they were convicted of stock theft for slaughtering a Botswana-branded cow that had strayed into Zimbabwe.

Agreement Bhebhe, 34, of Kafusi Dam Village, and Kepaletso Nyathi, 34, of Kafusi Dip Village, appeared before a Gwanda magistrate facing stock theft charges.

The court heard that on May 31, 2026, the pair, acting in common purpose, targeted a stray brown cow grazing at Shashe grazing lands along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border.

The animal bore a Botswana brand mark, ADZ5, and ear tag number BW19833411.

They allegedly slaughtered the cow and shared the carcass between themselves.

Following a tip-off, police launched investigations that led to the recovery of the brown hide from Nyathi, with the Botswana brand mark and ear tag still intact.

A portion of the meat was also recovered from Bhebhe.

To confirm ownership, a member of the Botswana Police Service was invited and identified the brand mark and ear tag number as belonging to a Botswana national.

The stolen beast was valued at US$500.

Nothing further was recovered.