Two men have been sentenced to five years in prison each after being found guilty of stealing a cow worth TZS 2.5 million in Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, in a case that highlights ongoing concerns over livestock theft in pastoral communities.
The Shambarai Primary Court convicted Lazaro Miaroni of Terrat Village and Kutiti Mosori of Komolo Village on May 5, 2026, in Criminal Case No. 74 of 2026.
Resident Magistrate Aneth Mshendwa ruled that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the two jointly stole a cow belonging to Lenana Soipey, a resident of Naisinyai Village. The incident occurred in Kitiangare Village within the district.
The court heard that the offence falls under Section 268(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 16 (Revised Edition, 2023), which criminalises livestock theft.
Testifying during the trial, prosecution witness Oloimundi Nasambeni said the first accused was seen holding the cow with a rope while the second assisted in driving it away, evidence that placed both at the scene of the crime.
In their defence, the accused denied the charge, telling the court that they had been entrusted with the animal by an unidentified person who never returned. However, the court dismissed the explanation as unconvincing in light of the evidence presented.
The complainant, Soipey, identified the cow through distinctive features, including a branded mark running from the face to the mouth, another mark on the upper hind leg, a yellow ear tag labelled “Lemala,” and its red colour.
He urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, noting that cattle keeping requires significant investment in feeding, veterinary care, and general maintenance, making theft particularly damaging to pastoral livelihoods.
“It is discouraging for livestock keepers to lose animals so easily to thieves after investing so much in raising them,” he told the court.
Although both accused pleaded for leniency Miaroni asking for a reduced sentence and Mosori seeking forgiveness the court held that the gravity of the offence warranted a custodial sentence.
In delivering the judgment, Magistrate Mshendwa noted that while the convicts had no previous criminal records, cattle theft remains a serious offence that undermines economic activities in rural communities.
She sentenced each to five years in prison and informed them of their right to appeal within 30 days.
