Bricklayer gets 7-years imprisonment for stock theft

By Christopher Miti

The Chipata Magistrates Court has sentenced a 31-year-old bricklayer of Eastrise Compound to seven years imprisonment with hard labour for stock theft.

Before Senior Resident Magistrate FELIX KAOMA was RICHARD PHIRI, who stood charged with two counts of stock theft.

Mr. PHIRI stole one cow from VITOLINO ZULU of Chuni village in Paramount Chief Mpezeni’s area valued at K7,500 and two animals belonging to Eugene Zimba also of Chuni village valued at K8,500.

He was apprehended when he attempted to sell the animals without the livestock movement papers near the abattoir in David Kaunda Stadium area.

In mitigation, Mr. PHIRI pleaded for leniency saying he was the first offender.

But Magistrate KAOMA said he will be failing in his duties if he does not protect poor farmers whose livelihood depend on livestock

He noted that such cases are prevalent in Chipata District.

Magistrate KAOMA sentenced Mr. PHIRI to seven years imprisonment with hard labour in each of the two counts that will run concurrently effective the date of arrest.