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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A GWANDA man has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for stealing 11 head of cattle.
Reason Ncube, 33, of Shanyaugwe area, had pleaded not guilty to stock theft charges but was convicted and sentenced by Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe on Friday.

Ncube was arrested after he went to a local prophet to seek prayers to help him conceal the crime but the man whom he thought would help him sold him out to the police.

In her judgment, Nazombe said evidence against Ncube was overwhelming as the state managed to prove its case with state witnesses giving corroborative evidence.

Prosecutor Getrude Zvidzai said on June 27 this year, Ncube stole 11 cattle belonging to Albert Tlou, 54, of Jonsley Resettlement in West Nicholson.

Hours later, some villagers at Zendele area spotted him driving the cattle heading towards Selonga area.

The villagers informed Nelson Dube, a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee and a report was made to the police.

Dube spotted Ncube the following day with the 11 cattle and stopped him but he ran away.

Meanwhile, two Gwanda police officers facing charges of stealing 10 head of cattle from Filabusi area were yesterday denied bail when they appeared before magistrate Nazombe.

The two, Brodrick Moyo, 27, and Pirate Mazarire, 30, applied for bail last week through their lawyer McAllister Ncube.

The state represented by Mncedisi Dube opposed bail arguing that if Moyo and Mazarire were granted bail they would interfere with state witnesses some of whom resided in the same area.

The state also said other two accused persons, Victor Mwene and Tichafa Shumba were still at large and police were yet to arrest them.

The court also heard that Moyo and Mazarire also wanted to bribe the investigating officer and the state has evidence of the cellphone messages to that effect.

In denying pair bail, Nazombe said Moyo and Mazarire had a case to answer considering the amount of evidence the state had against them.

The two were remanded in custody to  August 13.