A provincial magistrate in Zimbabwe ,Thabekhulu Dube is being accused of stealing an ox  from a farmer  way back in 2005.

The complainant, whose  name was not given in court or in court papers, lost his ox from the grazing area in Nkayi,Zimdiaspora reports.

The complainant  made a report to the police and the matter was investigated under reference crime register 115/07/05.

When the investigations were still underway, the complainant, at Badala Business Centre in Inyathi, saw magistrate ThabekhuluDube’s truck parked at the centre carrying some cattle to Bulawayo.

The complainant identified his ox in the vehicle.

He approached Dube and told him that one of the beasts belonged to him.The victim told the magistrate that they go to the police and verify the claims but he refused and ordered his truck driver to drive to Bulawayo where the cattle were sold.

The ox was valued at Z$7 000 000 and nothing was recovered.

Magistrate Thabekhulu Dube on Monday appeared  before Bulawayo senior regional magistrate Owen Tagu  to answer for the allegations.He was  not asked to plead to a charge of stocktheft when he appeared .

He was remanded out of custody on free bail to April 16 for trial.

Magistrate Dube, resides at the Justice Ministry quarters in Nkayi but is currently attending a local university.

By UP