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Thandeka Moyo, Court Reporter
A 36-year-old Nyamandlovu vagabond was slapped with a 38-year-jail term for stealing and killing four beasts and taking away only their livers.

Admire Zulu was once convicted of stock theft in 2012 and jailed.

He served and was released but resorted to living in a bushy area near Seafield Valley grazing land where he trapped animals whenever he craved ox liver.

Zulu also broke into homes and stole chickens and food from villagers. He pleaded not guilty to nine counts of stock theft, unlawful entry and theft.

Tsholotsho senior magistrate Victor Mpofu said Zulu was an unrepentant criminal who wreaked havoc in people’s homesteads stealing salt and flour whenever he left his abode in the bush.

“In arriving at the sentence, the court considered evidence that was led during trial.

“Accused mercilessly slaughtered people’s beasts with the intention of taking out the liver which he ate from his shack in the bush,” said magistrate Mpofu.

“For the four counts, he is sentenced to nine years each and nothing will be suspended,” he said. Three counts were treated as one for purposes of sentence and he will serve12 months for the offences.

Magistrate Mpofu sentenced Zulu to another 24 months for theft.

Two counts were treated as one for purposes of sentence and he was sentenced to 18 months of which six months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

“Effectively you’ll serve 38 years,” said magistrate Mpofu.

The court heard that a combined effort by villagers and police led to the arrest of Zulu in August last year bringing an end to his shenanigans.

Sharon Phiri for the state told the court that on May 26, Zulu spotted Cephas Ndlovu’s cattle grazing unattended and isolated one of them.

“He led the beast into a thick bushy area, slaughtered it and took its liver for his relish. Ndlovu looked for his beast and found the carcass near Deli railway Station,” said Phiri.

Zulu again pounced on Enos Mpofu’s head of cattle and used the same modus operandi to kill one beast on June 9.

“He took the liver and left the carcass to decay in the thick bush. When Zulu was arrested in August, he led police to the bush where he had slaughtered Mpofu’s beast,” she said.

Phiri said Zulu continued and slaughtered two more beasts only to take their livers, leaving the carcasses to decay.

“Zulu also approached Nkululeko Sibanda’s home and stole four chickens during the night and went away unnoticed. The chickens were later recovered from a woman who had bought them from Zulu.”

Phiri said Zulu’s wooden shack was spotted by Sibonokuhle Maphosa who was looking for her missing heifer.

“Zulu ran away from her and was arrested after he stole food from Hlengiwe Moyo’s kitchen.”