Muslim cleric steals four cattle to feed worshippers in Headlands

Three people, including an Imam, have been arrested in Headlands for the alleged theft and sale of eight cattle belonging to an 84-year-old farmer.

An Imam is a leader who most commonly guides Muslim worshippers in formal daily prayers.

The suspects are Brian Chibanda, 30, of Dotito, Mt Darwin; Nomatter Isaac, 36, of Nzvimbo Village, Chief Chiweshe; and Privilege Mapiko, 47, of Plot 14 Fairfield 29, an Imam at the Mai Rasy Business Centre Mosque in Headlands.

Chibanda and Isaac were employed as farm workers at Plot 8 Lawrencedale, where complainant Edward Solomon Makoni kept his cattle.

Manicaland provincial acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka told The Midweek Watch the pair allegedly took advantage of Makoni’s prolonged absence from the farm and connived with Mapiko to steal the animals.

On 25 May, they allegedly stole four oxen and sold them to Mapiko. The cattle were reportedly slaughtered at a gathering at the mosque and the meat distributed to congregants. Police say Mapiko has admitted the slaughter.

The workers allegedly continued stealing in July and August.

In July, they are said to have sold a grey heifer to Samson Mukonyora of Fairfield 25, Headlands, and a brown hornless bull to Rachel Willson of Goromonzi. In August, they allegedly sold a brown heifer to Chipo Chifamba of Rosedale Farm, Headlands.

The case came to light on 21 September after police received a tip-off from informer Peter Ngoni Makoni. Officers used the informer as a decoy buyer.

The informer met Chibanda at Headlands Business Centre, and they proceeded to the farm, where police officers posing as buyers bought a brown heifer for US$200.

As the animal was being driven towards Headlands, other officers intercepted them and arrested Chibanda. The beast was recovered and returned to the farm.

Police then proceeded to Rosedale Farm and arrested Isaac.

In the early hours of 22 September, officers recovered the grey heifer from Mukonyora at Fairfield 25.

Later that morning, Mapiko was arrested after being implicated by his co-accused. Police later recovered the brown heifer sold to Chifamba, also at Rosedale Farm.

Chinyoka urged livestock owners to remain vigilant and secure their animals, particularly when away from their farms for extended periods, and urged members of the public to report suspicious movements of livestock and to avoid buying cattle whose ownership cannot be verified.

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