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. . . as Operation ‘Nyama Yabvepi’ pays dividends
Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
Nearly 1 000 people were arrested for stocktheft and other related cases countrywide in the last two weeks.
According to police statistics, 39 people were arrested for stocktheft, while 947 others were up for related cases under an operation code-named “Nyama Yabvepi” which was launched to curb stocktheft.
Police Anti-Stock Theft Unit national co-ordinator Senior Assistant Commissioner Bernard Dumbura yesterday said the suspects were arrested between March 18 and 28.
“During the operation, we also recovered 84 cattle and four goats that had been stolen,” he said.
Snr Asst Comm Dumbura said 23 butcheries and 10 food outlets were also closed during the crackdown which is still continuing.
“We would want to urge people to report to the nearest police station any illegal activities in the meat industry,” he said. “We would also like to warn would- be offenders that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.”
Snr Asst Comm Dumbura urged farmers to look after their cattle and to put in place adequate measures to ensure that their cattle were not stolen.
“We also want the farmers to comply with the law either when keeping their livestock or moving them,” he said.
Snr Asst Comm Dumbura said the police will also continue to conduct awareness campaigns countrywide.
In January, about 2 000 people were arrested for stocktheft and other related cases countrywide.
Police said of the suspects, 43 were arrested for stocktheft while 1 843 were nabbed for related cases.
During the same period, 557 cattle were stolen compared to 703 last year, translating to a 21 percent decrease.
More than 22 000 people were arrested last year for stocktheft and other related cases countrywide.
According to police, 805 were arrested for stocktheft, while 21 566 were arrested for related cases.
During the period under review, Police Anti-Stock Theft carried out several operations and campaigns to curb stocktheft.
The unit recorded 3 473 stocktheft cases in 2014 compared to 4 711 cases in 2013, translating to a 26 percent decline, while a total of 10 667 cattle were stolen in 2013 as compared to 7 292 in 2014.
Online Reporter