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Speaking during a provincial cattle branding campaign programme in Zhombe near Kwekwe on Thursday last week, Asst Comm Ncube said the province’s cattle population had also been steadfastly improving owing to low cases of stocktheft brought about by the cattle branding system.
“Following the initial launch of the cattle branding campaign in the province in 2009 statistics indicate that the number of cattle stolen went down from 2 308 in 2009 to 1 982 in 2010. And 2015 stolen cattle were also recovered in 2009 and 2010 period with the help of the cattle branding system,” he said.
Asst Comm Ncube said the province also recorded a 13 percent decrease in the number of cattle stolen in the year 2011 and those that went missing in 2010.
“The province also recorded a 13 percent decrease in the number of cases reported in 2011 as compared to 2010. The number of cattle stolen in 2011 decreased to 1 364 from the previous year’s 1 982,” he said.
The acting police provincial commander said the cattle population in the province also improved to 691 064 from 621 985 before the cattle branding system was introduced in the province.
He urged communities to embrace the cattle branding system so as to reduce cases of stock theft in the province.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it cannot go without saying that our initiatives such as this cattle branding, co-operation from the members of the community are contributing to this steady increase in the cattle population in the province. We urge the members of the community, who are the major stakeholders in the fight against stocktheft, to continue embracing cattle branding for easier identification of their livestock in cases of theft,” he said.
Online Reporter