A trio from Bulawayo has been arrested after stealing and slaughtering two cows in Figtree last week.
Police have confirmed the arrest, identifying the three as Fanuel Makondo, (35) of New Lobengula, Mandlenkosi Sibanda (30) of Old Pumula and Tawanda Moyo (27) of Nkulumane 12.
“On June 23, 2023, around 7pm, the accused persons who were driving a blue Honda Fit vehicle, went to Maheba village, Fig Tree, and set three wire snares in the bush. Then they drove the herd of cattle into the snares, trapped and slaughtered two cows which belonged to two complainants in Maheba Village,” said Acting Bulawayo Provincial Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele.
According to Asst. Insp. Msebele, the three accused were seen by a Figtree villager, as they were loading the carcass into their motor vehicle.
“The villager alerted his neighbours and together they proceeded to the scene where they managed to apprehend one accused (Moyo) while the other two accused persons escaped, as they jumped into their vehicle and drove away with some of the meat,” she said, adding “a police report was then made”.
Asst. Insp. Msebele said on June 28, 2023, police in Bulawayo received a tip off that the two accused persons were at Iminyela shops in Mpopoma.
“Police reacted to the tip off and managed to arrest the two accused persons,” she said.
Assist. Insp. urged members of the community to report any person known or believed to be selling meat in residential houses.
“We commend the good work exhibited by members of the public for assisting the police to apprehend the accused person. We encourage the Bulawayo community to continue working hand in glove with the police in fighting crime. We therefore urge the community to report any person known or believed to be selling meat in houses. The public should also not buy uninspected meat as that is not only a crime but is also unsafe,” she said.
