By Kwedu News
Gweru Rural Police Intelligence and Anti-Stock Theft units have busted a suspected notorious criminal cattle rustling syndicate believed to be led by an ex-convict.
The arrest happened following events of 21 January 2025 when they tried to incorporate a private car owner in transporting a stolen cattle carcass.
“The alert Police Officers ‘sniffed’ a case where a private Toyota Probox motor vehicle was hired from Zvishavane to Gweru by some men on 21 January 2025,” Midlands Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said.
From Gweru, they drove along Gweru – Mvuma road during the night and along the way in Lalapanzi area, the transporter was ‘surprised’ to see his clients literally chasing after and attempting to capture cattle they saw near the road.
“They finally managed to capture and slaughtered a cow at a place near Hwahwa prison and transported the meat and delivered it to some houses in Mkoba high density suburbs,” Inspector Mahoko said.
The arrested suspects are Enock Mpofu, also known as Jona (32) of Eastlea, Zvishavane; Chrispen Matondo Zikhali (40) of Isaiah Park, Zvishavane; and Tanaka Murereka (24) of Council Park, Zvishavane.
The owner of the stolen beast was identified, Inspector Mahoko said.
Police investigations have established that Chrispen Matondo Zikhali was in prison twice for stock theft, in Zvishavane and Gweru.
Gweru Rural Police arrested Mpofu in Mandava, Zvishavane while Zikhali and Murereka were arrested at Top – Ten shops in Mkoba 5, Gweru.
A fourth suspect, Bongani Ncube, was not located and still at large.
As part of the investigation, Police searched their houses in Mkoba and recovered about 50kgs of meat, a cattle head, hide and tools used to slaughter the cattle which include an axe, ropes and knives.
