Mangochi First Grade Magistrate Court on Monday August 9, 2021 convicted and sentenced Matola Nyaude, 57, to 6-years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing 13 cattle contravening section 271 as read with section 281 of the Penal code.
The court heard through State Prosecutor Sub lnspector Skeva Munyapa that on the night of April 21, 2021 the convict and two accomplices broke into Brahim Abdul’s kraal in the area of traditional authority Namabvi and went away with all his 13 cattle which were in the kraal.
The same night the victim mobilized villagers and mounted an ambush in Namizimu Forest Reserve which is a possible uncharted route to Mozambique for cattle rustlers.
In the process the team saw the convict and accomplices equipped with knives, bows and arrows passing with the cattle.
Munyapa added that, the three dumped the cattle and vanished into the forest after noticing that they were followed and the victim identified his all 13 stolen cattle.
After being on the run for few months, the convict was arrested in June by Katuli Police following a tip from members of the community.
Appearing in court Nyaude pleaded not guilty prompting the state to parade four witnesses who proved the case beyond all reasonable doubt.
In mitigation Nyaude asked for court’s leniency saying that he takes care of his family but Prosecutor Munyapa asked court for a custodial sentence while justifying that sweeping all cattle in the kraal is more like killing the person and such behavior cannot be tolerated in the society.
First Grade Magistrate Mtunduwatha Mpasu concurred with the state hence the sentence to deter other would be offenders.
Nyaude who is also answering another charge of theft of cattle hails from Namputu village, Traditional Authority Katuli in Mangochi.
