Nkosentsha Khumalo
In a bumbling criminal caper straight out of a Looney Tunes cartoon, 11 hapless donkeys thieves were arrested after being found using the stolen animals to transport firewood.
The donkey-thieving drama unfolded in Ntabazinduna some 35 kilometers out of Bulawayo, where the band of thieves allegedly stole 15 donkeys from local farmers in October 2021.
The gallopin’ gangsters thought they had gotten away with their kraal, but the long arm of the law caught up with them when their victims received word that their stolen animals were in the western Pumula suburb of Bulawayo.
The victims, six farmers from Ntabazinduna, after receiving the tip-off that their prized animals were in Pumula, like modern-day Sherlock Holmeses, tracked down the culprits.
A joint operation by the police and the farmers revealed the 11 suspects who allegedly possessed the donkeys and were already using the domesticated animals for transportation of various goods including poached firewood.
The donkey stealing gang of 11 was caught hoof-handed in the bizarre case of stock theft, leading them to the Courts in Bulawayo.
They appeared before Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Busani Sibanda for stock theft charges after being found in possession of the 15 donkeys at a grazing area where they were illegally using them to ferry firewood.
The 11 including a juvenile are, Bezel Dube (19), Anold Sibanda (27), Calvin Sibanda (33), Bekithemba Moyo (33), Brain Soto (24), Samuel Nyathi (33), Trust Sibanda (20), Bukhosi Moyo (25), Ndodana Ndlovu (30 and Anele Nyathi (19) pleaded not guilty to stocktheft charges.
A 16 Year old was who was part of the gang was, however, remanded into the custody of Khumbulani Moyo in Mbembesi A5 while the other 10 accused persons were remanded in custody at Khami prison.
Sibanda remanded them in custody pending commmencement of trial at a Mbembesi Court, the jurisdiction are on the crime.
Prosecutor Dorcas Maphosa told the court that sometime in October 2021 at Ntabazinduna, the eleven accused persons stole 15 donkeys which belonged to Zibusiso Sobela, Ndumiso Bhehane, Nhlanhla Maduna, Milton Nkomo, Jimmy Mleya and Bongani Ncube at a grazing area in Ntabazinduna, Mbembesi.
The state alleges that on August 2, 2022 the above complainants received information to the effect that their stolen donkeys were at Pumula area where they found them with the accused persons who were using the donkeys to ferry firewood and they positively identified them.
The matter was reported to the police leading to arrest.
Brain, Anele, Bekithemba and Samuel reside at Lizzie farm, Bulawayo, Bezel from Robert Sinyoka farm, Anold from Iland farm, Calvin from Island farm, Trust from Emthunzini, Ndodana from Nkulumane West, Bukhosi from Mabutho Nkulumane West and the 16 Year old resides at Pumula Old suburb.
The matter was transfered to Mbembesi Court for proceedings.
Zim GBC News ©2024