adminLiberty Dube and Blessing Rwizi
FARMERS in Manicaland province have been urged to appreciate the importance of cattle branding and acquire personal brand certificates to avoid unnecessary losses through stock theft. Speaking at the Manicaland province cattle branding re-launch campaign held last Friday at Mahere dip tank in Nyazura, Officer Commanding Manicaland province, Senior Assistant Commissioner James Nyakotyo, said the Zimbabwe Republic Police, as a critical factor in the implementation of the Zim-Asset, has been the driving force behind the thrust to preserve the national herd.
The event was attended by scores of farmers and villagers in Mahere Village.
“While several strategies exist to ensure that our livestock is not depleted through thefts, branding has proved to be one of the most reliable one. It is therefore imperative that as farmers we embrace this strategy and prevent unnecessary losses. This proactive strategy initiated by the ZRP takes into cognisance that prevention against theft of livestock is a collective effort which requires not only the farmer’s engagement but a conscious involvement,” he said.
He said the Government through the veterinary and livestock department, was also contributing through the introduction of zonal brands that would further identify cattle with a particular province, district or dip-tank.
“These brands would assist to control movement of cattle as a way of monitoring and preventing the spread of diseases. I therefore, urge all farmers to cooperate and work with the personnel from the veterinary department to make this initiative a success,” he added.
The cattle branding programme dubbed: “ZRP cattle branding programme/muchiso pamombe/uphawu enkomeni”, was initially launched in Mashonaland West province in Zvimba in 2011. The thrust of the campaign was to conscientise farmers on the importance of cattle branding as well as acquire personal brand certificates.
Manicaland province recorded 508 cases of stock theft between January and October 2015 as compared to 467 cases reported during the same period in year 2014. The province registered an eight percent increase.
A total of 895 cattle were stolen this year while 806 cattle were stolen during same period in 2014 translating to 10 percent increase. A total of 92 suspects were arrested for stock theft involving cattle while 169 were arrested for other stock theft related offences this year. In 2014, 92 suspects were arrested for stock theft that involved cattle, while 174 were arrested for other stock theft-related offences.
Manicaland Provincial Veterinary Office representative, Roy Dube, pledged to work in unison with the ZRP in the reduction of stock theft cases saying it would inevitably improve the identification of stray or stolen stock. One villager, Tendai Chimusasa welcomed the initiative saying it would go a long way in combating stock theft in the village.
“We are happy and we hope the ZRP will continue working with us,” he said.
Online Reporter