Two cattle rustling suspects were arrested near Bulawayo yesterday morning transporting 19 head of cattle said to have been stolen from the Insiza area.
Scenes of joy swept through Bulawayo Central Police Station in the morning, as members scrambled to catch a glimpse of two suspected cattle rustlers and a truck parked in front of the station loaded with livestock.
Residents waited patiently as they shouted obscenities at the suspects outside the station.
Some took selfies, while others recorded real-time videos to share news of the development with family and friends across the country and abroad. Residents stormed the detectives who were transporting the two suspects in a police car, and forced their way in to take pictures.
Members of the public did not disperse until shortly after 9:30 a.m. after police transported the suspects and the truck loaded with livestock to a different station.
Bulawayo Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Abedneko Ncube, confirmed the arrest of Edmure Bhebe (49) and Farai Bambokani (28), both from the Emganwini suburb of Bulawayo, and attributed their arrest to a report from a worker at the Insiza Rural District Council.
Police intercepted and arrested the duo in the early hours of Wednesday after they attempted to use the cover of night to illegally transport a herd of 19 head of cattle worth an estimated US$7,600 to a destination yet to be determined.
According to police, the council employee (name given) had just gotten off work late on Tuesday evening and had suspicions about a truck loaded with livestock which led him to confront the suspects.
“A truck loaded with livestock caught his attention and he decided to investigate its business in the area. He interrogated the two and asked them to produce documents proving that they were transporting livestock legally, but they told him they would submit the documents to the police,” Inspector Ncube said.
“The man then decided to call the police after the two refused to cooperate and drove off. He then decided to follow them, while trying to call the police at Fort Rickson to intercept them.
He said when Bhebhi and Bambokani realized they were being followed, they ran off the road in an attempt to avoid confronting police along the toll gate between Bulawayo and Harare.
“During the chase, the worker decided to call the police in Bulawayo who then quickly responded and intercepted the truck, leading to its arrest,” Insp Ncube said.
“Upon questioning, the police discovered that the vehicle contained 19 heads of cattle, 13 cows and six bulls.”
He praised the public’s vigilance and close cooperation with police in thwarting stock theft, saying Bulawayo would never be an open market and haven for stolen livestock. Chronicle
