Staff Reporter

A 28-year-old man, Shylock Zulu, from Mashala village in Hwange, has been convicted and sentenced to six months in prison for stock theft after stealing a goat and selling its meat back to its owner.

Zulu stole a black and white male goat from Thabani Sibanda at the Mashala grazing area on January 8, 2025.

After slaughtering the goat, Zulu went to Sibanda's homestead, where he sold the meat for USD 15, claiming it was bush meat.

"Circumstances are that on 08 January 2025, at Mashala grazing area, the accused unlawfully took one black and white male goat belonging to Thabani Sibanda. The accused person slaughtered the said goat and proceeded to Sibanda's homestead, where he sold the meat on the carcass to the complainant for USD 15, purporting it to be bush meat. The complainant became suspicious that the meat could be from his goat which went missing," said the National Prosecuting Authority in a statement.

Sibanda grew suspicious after the sale and later realised the meat came from his own goat.

Zulu was later arrested and sentenced to three months in prison, with the remainder of his sentence suspended under two conditions.

"The accused person was sentenced to 3 months in imprisonment; of which 3 months were suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years. The remaining 3 months were suspended on condition the accused person restitutes the complainant USD 1057," the statement continued.

Zulu is now required to compensate Sibanda for the value of the stolen goat.