Residents were left stunned when two women and a teenage boy were allegedly caught slaughtering stolen cattle in Mboma Village a rare and shocking act that shattered expectations and exposed a new face of rural crime.
The incident occurred on 9 October 2025, when police responded to a tip-off and arrived to find the suspects in the middle of skinning two freshly slaughtered beasts.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the trio identified as Prisca Sithole (34), Cathrine Sibanda (29), and a 16-year-old boy were found with three live cattle, two carcasses, buckets of offal, and a black Honda Fit believed to be the getaway vehicle.
In a statement shared on their official Twitter account, the Zimbabwe Republic Police said:
“ZRP Maboleni arrested Prisca Sithole (34), Cathrine Sibanda (29) and a 16-year-old boy… The suspects, along with three others still at large, allegedly stole five cattle and were caught while skinning two.”
The involvement of women in such a serious agricultural crime is highly unusual, challenging long-held assumptions about stock theft offenders.
Police believe the suspects were part of a larger group, with three accomplices still on the run.
The use of a getaway vehicle suggests the operation was premeditated and possibly linked to an organized cattle rustling network.
Legal experts warn that the suspects face severe consequences under Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law Code, which imposes mandatory sentencing for stock theft involving bovine animals.
The law states that offenders convicted under such circumstances face imprisonment of no less than nine years and up to twenty-five years.
Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities have urged villagers to remain vigilant.
As cattle rustling continues to threaten rural livelihoods, communities are being encouraged to report suspicious activity before it escalates.
