Byo a ready market for stolen cattle

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
BULAWAYO province is one of the largest consumers of stolen cattle in the country, the police Anti-Stock Theft Unit National Coordinator, Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza, said yesterday.

Addressing participants during a stakeholders meeting at the Cold Storage Company in Bulawayo, Snr Asst Comm Makodza said although the province does not have many cases of stock theft, it was among those fuelling the crime.

The meeting was attended by the city’s Business Against Stock Theft (BAST) members, restaurant, butchery and abattoir owners and other interested parties in the meat industry.

Snr Asst Comm Makodza said players in the meat industry need to partner with the police in fighting stock theft cases as criminals have become sophisticated in their conduct.

“The national statistics indicate that there’s a slight increase in stock theft cases. However, Bulawayo doesn’t have many cases of stolen cattle but it’s the biggest market for stolen cattle,” he said.

Snr Asst Comm Makodza reiterated that police were in the process of lobbying the government to impose stiffer penalties on those buying stolen cattle.

Presently, a stock thief is liable to a mandatory sentence of nine years in prison for each count but the proposed sentences will see those buying stolen cattle getting double the sentence.

Snr Asst Comm Makodza acknowledged that there might be incidents where players in the meat industry might not know that they are buying stolen cattle calling on them to report any suspicious meat traders.

“If you’re not sure of the authenticity and origin of the meat you’re buying or the clearance papers for the same meat, please engage the police. Don’t hesitate to do so because we’re there to assist you for free. If you see police officers charging you for that, they’ll be committing a criminal offence. You should report them,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, the Officer Commanding Bulawayo Suburban District, Chief Superintendent Rita Nomsa Masina, challenged the participants to join the BAST forum saying it offers them an opportunity to fight stock theft.