By A Correspondent| A former soldier from Bulawayo, Tafadzwa Mahlahla (35) from Pumula East suburb has appeared in court for allegedly breaking into a butchery twice and stealing meat worth $18536.

The accused who was based at Imbizo Barracks in Bulawayo before retirement was on September 24 arrested after police received a tip-off that he had opened a mini butchery at his place.

Mahlahla pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful entry and theft charge before Western Commonage magistrate, Mr Urgent Vundla saying that he had bought the meat for a funeral.

He said:

I bought the meat from Sindiso Moyo for a funeral that was at our place. I didn’t steal it.

-StateMedia