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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A PLUMTREE soldier allegedly stole a cow and a calf from an army farm in Figtree and tried to register the animals in his name. Jeffery Nyirenda, 23, who is stationed at 1.3 infantry battalion, appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon facing stocktheft charges.

He was remanded in custody to April 9.

Prosecuting, Jane Phiri said Nyirenda, who was working at the brigade farm in Manda area, Figtree, stole the animals on March 17.

“Nyirenda stole a brown cow and its male calf and drove them to his homestead in Devandale Village in Figtree area. The cattle were strays that were kept at the farm.

“Nyirenda then tried to register the cattle with a veterinary officer as his. The officer was suspicious and investigations exposed him, resulting in his arrest,” she said.

Phiri said the animals were both worth $600.

In another incident, a 50-year-old Bulawayo man who appeared before the same magistrate, has been jailed for stealing food from a lodge in Mangwe District.

Anakonda Banda of Nkulumane, stole bread, milk, peach slices, coca cola beverage, bananas, chocolates and cigarettes from Malalangwe Game Sanctuary Lodge at midnight.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment of which three months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit an offence of a similar nature.

Banda, who initially denied the charges, later told the court that he was trying to secure food to eat as he was starving.

He had initially denied knowledge of the stolen food after swearing that he was not within the vicinity of the lodge at the time.

A caretaker at the lodge David Mason, 77, told the court that he bought food supplies on March 16 and stored them in a fridge.

He said he was told by a worker on the following morning that some goods had been stolen.

Mason said he alerted his security guards who helped him to track down Banda.

Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said Banda broke into the lodge premises at around 12 midnight.

‘’Banda forced open a closed window in order to gain access into the lodge. He then stole two loaves of bread, two litres fresh milk, a 410 g tin of peach slices, 500ml bottle of coke, six bananas, one chocolate bar and one pack of cigarettes,” said Shawarira.

He said Mason and his security guards followed Banda’s footprints until they found him cycling towards Mangwe Police Station.

Shawarira said the complainant escorted Banda to the police station where he was found in possession of some of the stolen goods.

He said Banda had stolen goods worth $40 and $25 worth of goods were recovered from him.