Witness testifies in cattle theft case

Witness testifies in cattle theft case

Kalabo, September 17, 2014, ZANIS…………… A witness yesterday testified how a Kalabo District Hospital Official and  his co-accused a grade 12 pupil  stole  six  heads of cattle and slaughtered two at Kankola grave yard before selling the  meat.

Makina Biyenga 54, a teacher at Lyapepa Primary School narrated before Magistrate Emmanuel Mukoma   how the three accused persons namely Muyunda Mubuyayeta, a hospital official , Mushawa Mushawa  17,a grade 12 pupil at Kalabo High School and  Sepiso Mubuyayeta  travelled to Silume village within the district to steal  six heads of cattle but only managed to get away with two after they were intercepted by villagers.

Mr Biyenga also told the court how Sepiso Mubuyayeta decided to be having meals in the bush for fear of being apprehended after preliminary investigations instituted by the villagers revealed that he was one of the prime suspects.

The witness, who is also the owner of the two slaughtered animals, alleged that Muyunda, the hospital official apologized for stealing the animals.

This is in a case in which the trio is facing two counts of stock theft.

In the first count the trio is charged with theft of two oxen valued at K3000 whilst jointly acting together contrary to section 275 and 272 of the penal code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

In the second count, the trio is charged with stealing six heads of oxen valued at K6000 whilst jointly acting together which is contrary to Section 275 and 272 of the Penal Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

During cross examination Muyunda who repeatedly flashed a cross sign whilst chewing unknown substance caused laughter in court after he made an application to the court to forgive him in case he committed another offence in the process of defending himself.

And magistrate Mukoma encouraged him to ask appropriate questions to the witness and to never mind about committing another offence.

The trio denied the two charges slapped on them and the court set October 7,2014 for continued trial.