Butcher man jailed for stealing cattle

Butcherman gets 3 years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing cattle at Phalula in Balaka district.

A Lunzu based butcher man Mabvuto Jafali 40 was arrested at Chilimba Township in Blantyre and his arrest led to the arrest of his accomplice Maxwell Mulozi.

Presenting the facts before court, Eastern Region Police Prosecution officer Senior Superintendent Dickens Mwambazi said the convicts stole 8 herds of cattle on 9th March at Bamusi village in the area of Sub Traditional Authority Phalula in Balaka district.

“The two connived with the herd boy to steal the cattle and were intercepted by Community Policing members at Manondo in Neno district. However the two escaped leaving the cattle with the community policing members and were arrested later,” prosecutor explained.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge of Theft that made the state to parade four witnesses.

In his submission prosecutor asked the court to give the convicts a stiffer custodial sentence considering that Mabvuto owns a butchery which means some of the meat he sold was from stolen animals.

But in mitigation, the two through their lawyer said they are both first offenders and have families to look after; hence the need for the court to give them a lenient sentence.

Mabvuto Jafali comes from Yoyola village, Traditional Authority Kapeni in Blantyre district while Maxwell Mulozi from Senzani village Traditional Authority Phambala in Ntcheu district.