Two men from Guyu in Matabeleland South province have each been sentenced to nine years in prison after they stole and slaughtered a Botswana cow that had strayed into Zimbabwe.
Agreement Bhebhe (34), of Kafusi Dam village and Kepaletso Nyathi (34), of Kafusi village were convicted of stock theft at the Gwanda Magistrates Court.
The court heard that on May 31,2026, the pair slaughtered the cow in Shashe along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border, and shared the meat.
The animal was identified by a Botswana brand mark, ADZ5, and ear tag number BW1983341.
Police launched investigations following a tip-off from community members.
Officers recovered the brown hide from Nyathi with the Botswana brand mark and ear tag still intact. A portion of the meat was also recovered from Bhebhe.
A member of the Botswana Police Service was invited and confirmed that the brand mark and ear-tag code belonged to a Botswana national.
The stolen beast was valued at US$500.
Stocktheft remains a serious offence, with border districts among the worst affected.
