A 44-year-old man accused of stealing six cattle and slaughtering them before selling the meat denied the allegations, insisting he was selling kudu meat when he appeared in court earlier this week.
Ignatius Charamba appeared for trial on Wednesday at the Bulawayo Provincial Magistrates’ Court, facing charges of stock theft. He was represented by his lawyer, Prince Butshe of Butshe and Associates.
Through his lawyer, Charamba pleaded not guilty, arguing that he is in the business of selling game meat. He told the court that on the day in question, he had been found selling kudu meat.
Butshe challenged the prosecution’s case, disputing claims that Charamba had been caught with 240kg of meat, offals, and cattle skins.
He argued that these details were not recorded in Form 390, the police’s Standard Operating Procedure document.
The arresting officer, Inspector Sakson Dube, told the court that the animals stolen and slaughtered were classified under bovinae.
Butshe countered that bovinae encompasses cattle, kudu, and buffalo, suggesting the classification did not prove the meat was beef.
Charamba was remanded out of custody to Thursday for continuation of trial.
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