By Court Reporter
In a bizarre incident, 19-year-old Locky Chigwengwe of Nyawiswa village found himself in hot water after stealing a cow to pay lobola (bride price) for his sweetheart.
On April 12, 2024, at around 6 pm, the complainant had secured his herd at Dabvu homestead and headed home, unaware of the impending theft. Under the cover of darkness, Chigwengwe snuck into the cattle kraal, untied a distinctive black cow with curved horns, and drove it away without detection.
The very next day, Chigwengwe used the stolen cow to pay lobola to Ian Wamiridza of Muchena village, the father of his bride-to-be. However, the complainant discovered the missing beast the following morning and promptly reported the incident to the authorities.
Investigations led the police to Wamiridza’s doorstep on April 14, 2024, where they found the stolen cow and extracted a confession from him, implicating Chigwengwe in the crime.
The stolen cow was valued at USD 400, and Chigwengwe’s desperation ultimately landed him a nine-year prison sentence. The Karoi Magistrates’ Court handed down the verdict.