Deathbed Confession Leads To Arrest Of Suspect, Years Later
A suspected cattle thief from Somnene Plot in Plumtree, Matabeleland South Province, appeared in court recently after his now-deceased friend and accomplice made a confession on his deathbed.
Just before he died, Lovemore Mhlanga reportedly confessed to his aunt Loveness Mhlanga (51) from Efusini extension in Tsholotsho, that he had connived with one of her relatives, Kenneth Kenesi Sibanda (56), to steal her cattle.
In total, Lovemore and Kenneth stole three beasts that Loveness had given to Lovemore for safekeeping.
This came out when Sibanda appeared before Tsholotsho resident magistrate Victor Mpofu facing three counts of stock theft as defined in Section 114 (2) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
Sibanda, who pleaded not guilty to all three counts was remanded in custody to 25 August.
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The prosecutor, Asher Chindedza, told the court that sometime in 2010, the complainant, Loveness, gave 10 head of cattle to her uncle Lovemore, who is now deceased.
She gave the cattle to Lovemore for safe keeping as she did not have a kraal at her homestead.
It is alleged that at that time, Lovemore, who was staying at Remta Village in Nyamandlovu, agreed and the cattle were registered in his name.
The court was told that Lovemore connived with Kenneth and took one of the heifers valued at US$400, to his rural home in Plumtree where it later calved twice.
In 2018, Lovemore again connived with Kenneth to sell Loveness’s ox valued at US$600.
Kenneth then moved the beast from Remta Village, Nyamandlovu to his homestead in Plumtree where he later sold it, the court heard.
The State alleged that sometime in 2019, the now deceased again connived with Sibanda and took Loveness’ bull that was under his care and again sold it in Plumtree. The bull was reportedly valued at US$800.
In all three counts, the accused never had a police clearance of any of the transactions yet the beasts were moved from Nyamandlovu to Plumtree.
However, when Lovemore became sick and on his deathbed, he allegedly confessed to Loveness that one of her heifers was taken by Sibanda and that it had two calves.
He also told Loveness that she was supposed to get some of the beasts from the accused as replacements for the ones which they had sold without her consent.
It is alleged that after Lovemore’s death, Loveness confronted Kenneth who requested a meeting so that they could resolve the issue amicably.
The two agreed that Kenneth would return the cattle to Loveness and was even given US$800 to clear the beasts from Plumtree to Nyamandlovu.
However, Kenneth took the money but did not return the cattle leading the complainant to report the matter to the police and inform them about Lovemore’s confession.
More: B-Metro
