By KASONDE KASONDE –
TWO men in Kabwe have been sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a goat.
This is in an case where Thomas Mulima, 20, and Mweetwa Phiri, 21, were facing one count of stock theft for stealing a goat.
Mulima and Phiri between March 24 and 25, this year in Kabwe jointly and whilst acting together did steal one goat valued at K300 a charge they admitted.
In mitigation Mulima pleaded with the court to be lenient on him as he was a first offender.
Phiri asked the court to be lenient with him as he was an orphan who had no one to help him leading him to stealing.
Kabwe Magistrate Chimuka Mutafela in passing judgment said he was slapping the two with a two year sentence as stock theft had increased over the years.
Mr Mutafela said people who stole domestic animals frustrated Government efforts of empowering the local farmers who depended on livestock for their livelihood.
“The Court is sending you to Prison for two years so that you can serve as a warning to people who are stealing animals in the communities”, Mr Mutafela said.
He said people are able to send their children to school through the money they got from selling their animals adding that the law would not be lenient on stock thieves.
