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Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
An alleged notorious cattle rustler, who mainly preyed on farmers in Rusape, was recently arrested and hauled before the court on stocktheft charges. James Chasiya (46), a guard at Watershed College in Marondera, pleaded not guilty to three counts of stocktheft when he appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera.

He was represented by Mr Tendai Bvuma of Bvuma and Associates.
Prosecutor Ms Event Dhliwayo said Chasiya and his accomplice, Shadreck Kugaramambo, who is still at large, were in the habit of stealing cattle in Rusape before deboning them and selling the carcasses in Mutare.

“On October 26, 2017, Chasiya and Kugaramambo connived and hatched a plan to steal cattle from Rhoda Chimene of Plot 5 Diana’s Vow,” said Ms Dhliwayo. “They proceeded to the complainant’s cattle pen during the night where they selected a bull, which they leashed and drove across the road. They tied it onto a tree 700 metres from the cattle pen and slaughtered it. The accused deboned the meat and loaded it into 20-litre plastic buckets.

“They screened bones, head, offals and hide before vanishing from the scene. The offence came to light the following morning when David Rateiwa discovered the remains of the carcass while he was going to tend his fields.”

It is further alleged that on November 3, 2017, Chasiya and Kugaramambo went to Richard Matindindi’s cattle pen during the night and selected one heifer, which they roped and shepherded behind the homestead. They tied it to a tree and slaughtered it.
Again, they deboned the meat and loaded it into 20-litre plastic buckets and left behind bones, the head, offals and the hide.
Mr Kubonera deferred the matter to March 14.