8 policemen arrested for cattle rustling
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=27813
March 9, 2010
By Owen Chikari
MASVINGO – Eight police officers based at Mashava Police and a businessman have been arrested following the unearthing of a cattle rustling syndicate, alleged to be responsible for the disappearance of nearly 100 herd cattle from Chivi communal lands Station in Masvingo Province in less than one week.
At least 40 herd of cattle were recovered at Gonyohori Abattoir on the outskirts of the city of Masvingo, amid reports that the case has since been handed over to the criminal investigations department (CID) because of
its complexity.
Sources within the police yesterday said that eight policemen based at Mashava were arrested after they were implicated in a cattle rustling syndicate which has shocked police officers here.
“We have arrested eight policemen and a businessman in connection with stock theft involving over 100 cattle”, said a policeman investigating the case.
He refused to be named.
“The arrested officers were involved in clearing the stolen cattle”, he said. “Of the eight some will be charged with criminal cases while others will be charged under the Police Act and dealt with internally”.
It also emerged yesterday that the case had now been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department CID. Normally stock theft cases are dealt with by uniformed police officers and not by the CID.
“The case has since been handed over to the CID but normally all stock theft cases are dealt with by ordinary police officers,” said the police source.
According to the police the businessman would steal several cattle from Chivi communal lands during the night.
He would then proceed to the nearby Mashava Police Station for stock clearance by the police. Under Zimbabwean law any movement of stock has to be cleared by the police.
It is alleged that the officers in question would clear the stolen cattle well knowing that they were stolen.
It is alleged that some of the officers received kick backs to clear the stolen beasts while others got some proceeds from the stolen cattle.
A police anti-stock unit recovered 40 beasts at Gonyohori Abattoir on the outskirts of the city of Masvingo, where they were to be slaughtered.
Masvingo police spokesman Assistant Inspector Tinaye Matake yesterday confirmed the arrest of the eight officers but refused to give details, saying that investigations were still in progress.
“I can confirm that we have arrested some officers from Mashava and a businessman but I cannot give you more details since investigations are still in progress”, he said.
Meanwhile the police have arrested a Masvingo businessman, Buyo Masebo, who is also known as Muswere, for fraud on allegation that he sold a haulage truck which he had hired.
According to the police the businessman allegedly sold the haulage truck for $6000 well knowing that it was not his.
This is not the first time that Masebo has been found on the wrong side of the law.
In 2005 he was trekked down by the Scorpion (South African police) following a series of fraud cases he had allegedly committed in the country.
Masebo got off the hook following the intervention of senior Zanu-PF officials.