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Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MANICALAND has recorded a 10 percent decrease in reported stock theft cases from last year, Officer Commanding Police in Manicaland Province, Commissioner Priscilla Makotose has said.
During the period of January to June this year, the province recorded a total of 268 stock theft cases, while during the same period last year, 319 cases were reported.
Addressing stakeholders at the launch of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Anti-Stock Theft Awareness Campaign held in Buhera on Wednesday, Commissioner Makotose said they managed to arrest 75 suspected stock thieves this year.
Of the 75, 40 have already been tried and convicted and are currently serving their jail terms.
“Last year, a total of 98 suspected stock thieves were arrested during the same period and we are glad to announce that the community helped in alerting the police on the whereabouts of these criminals.
“A total of 271 cattle were stolen during the same period this year, while a total of 319 were stolen during the first half of 2019,” she said.
Commissioner Makotose said police in Manicaland have also put at least 265 stock theft suspects on the wanted list as they absconded court after being granted bail.
“Chipinge and Mutare Rural Districts have got the highest number of wanted stock thieves as 227 are from the two districts. Twenty-four are from Rusape, while Buhera has seven suspected stock thieves on the run.
“These suspects disappeared after being granted bail by the courts. We urge the public to work together with the police and alert us if anyone knows the whereabouts of these suspects,” she said.
“We have Anti-Stock Theft Units which are at every police post in the country. The officers there will assist you,” she said.
She urged traditional leaders to form anti-stock theft liaison committees which work together with the police in curbing stock theft in their respective areas.
“The police cannot be in existence without the community, so we urge you to keep tipping us off and aiding us in policing the province as we try to curb stock theft,” she said.
Commissioner Makotose urged the community to visit rural district council offices across the province and help identify their lost livestock which are classified as stray cattle.
The province currently has 93 stray cattle in its possession, with 39 in Buhera, 28 in Rusape and 36 in Mutare Rural District.
“Those with lost or missing cattle should come and identify their cattle with their evidence and witnesses,” she said.
National Anti-Stock Theft Coordinator, Assistant Commissioner Ezekiel Muvengerwa also appealed to the public to help the police in fighting stock theft.
“We are having a problem regarding cattle rustlers.
“Police also advise communities that they cannot win this war on their own. Together with the community, they can stop cattle rustling,” said Assistant Commissioner Muvengerwa.
Dr Samson Chiduku of the Department of Veterinary Services urged farmers to brand their cattle with unique dip tank codes, personalised branding and ear tags that will help in swift identification of the livestock if they are lost or stolen.
He urged them to embrace the dip tank branding programme as it will be decentralised to local dip tanks.
“Remember that it is criminal to not have unbranded livestock. You should also know that failure to dip your livestock is criminal. The dip tank codes will help us in curbing stock theft,” he said.
He discouraged traditional leaders from helping stock thieves with clearing livestock.
“Traditional leaders should refrain from taking over the police’s job of clearing cattle and conniving with stock thieves on moving the stolen cattle.
“It is criminal and if one is caught, you risk prosecution together with the stock thief,” he said.
Dr Chiduku said cattle rustling has become a threat to the national herd, adding that the selling of uninspected meat on the streets is a risk to public health.
He also warned that stock theft carries a mandatory sentence of a minimum of nine years.
One can be sentenced up to 15 years in jail per each beast once they are proven guilty of the offence.
Online Reporter