5-years for stealing a chicken, 30-years for a cow, police pleads with AG’s office

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is petitioning the Attorney General’s office to ensure that the minimum mandatory sentences for stock theft are increased, to deter criminals. The police want the mandatory sentences to stand as follows

30 years – Cattle
20 years – Donkey or Goat
5 years – Chicken

National anti-stock theft coordinator Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza said that the police had already sent a letter to the Attorney-General’s office with their recommendations:

Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza said

Stocktheft is a serious offence which calls for a deterrent sentence. We have sent a proposal to the AG’s Office for an increase in stock theft sentences.

We have proposed 30 years for theft of a beast, 20 years for theft of a goat or donkey and five years for theft of a chicken. Cases of stocktheft remain high and they pose a threat to our nation’s economic stability because livestock are a main source of income in many com- munities.

Therefore, there is a need to penalise perpetrators accordingly.

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