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Wynne Zanamwe, Midlands Reporter
A 45-YEAR-OLD man from Silobela has been jailed for nine years for selling a stray heifer to a fellow villager, allegedly to raise funds for cancer treatment.

Kizito Mhike of Mutsambadzi Village under Chief Gobo Silobela pleaded guilty to a charge of stock theft when he appeared before Kwekwe Magistrate Mr Ngonidzashe Nduna.

The Magistrate sentenced him to nine years in jail.

In his defence, Mhike said he sold the heifer to pay for cancer treatment.

“I did not know that it was crime to keep a stray heifer and not to advise anyone about it. I also sold the heifer because I wanted some money to pay for my cancer treatment,” he said.

Prosecuting, Ms Chipo Moyo said in March last year, Mhike found a stray heifer amongst his herd of cattle.

“The accused did not report this stray stock to the police as required by law but decided to keep it amonghis herd of cattle. On November 5, the accused sold the stray stock to Fanuel Foster Magaisa for $220 which was paid in full,” she said.

“On November 9, Magaisa proceeded to the accused person’s homestead to collect the heifer in question. While he was on his way he got information that the heifer did not belong to the accused person but was stray stock.”-@wynnezane.