In a landmark ruling, the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court has sentenced 37-year-old Ivor Butau to nine years in prison for stock theft. Butau, a farm worker, was convicted of stealing and slaughtering his employer’s bull at Shirleigh Farm in Darwendale.
The incident occurred in September 2024 when Butau took advantage of his employer’s absence to steal a brown and black bull valued at USD 400. He subsequently slaughtered the animal and sold the meat at his mother’s residence. The theft was uncovered after law enforcement officers, acting on a tip-off, raided the location and recovered the carcass.
Stock theft remains a serious issue in Zimbabwe, affecting livelihoods and the economy.
