adminThe officer commanding police in Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Lawrence Chinhengo, said the suspects, Trymore Ncube (29), Stanley Moyo (30), Bokang Tlou (38) and a 14-year-old minor, all from Ngoma village in Chief Marupi area in Gwanda were arrested yesterday following a tip-off.
The arrests bring to eight the number of suspects arrested so far since the launch of the crackdown on Saturday.
The other suspects, Daniel Makhalima Moyo (78), believed to be the mastermind, his 28-year-old son, Nhlanhla Moyo, Obvious Nare (20) and Thembinkosi Khumalo, all from Shanyaugwe area in Gwanda district, were arrested at Zezani area on Saturday while driving the cattle from Shanyaugwe.
“We arrested four more suspects linked to the cattle-rustling racket and we also recovered 30 more stolen cattle.
“Our investigations indicate that the suspects were working in cahoots with some Bulawayo abattoir operators to whom they supplied with the stolen cattle.
“The suspects had built cattle pens in Shanyaugwe where they kept the stolen livestock while awaiting to sell them and most of the cattle had their brand marks tampered with while some had been dehorned,” he said.
The latest development brings to 45 the number of recovered stolen cattle since the start of the exercise.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said so far 15 cattle have since been positively identified by the owners. The animals are kept at Zezani under police custody. “We are appealing to members of the public who have missing cattle to report to Zezani Police Station so that they can possibly identify their stolen cattle,” he said.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said they were continuing with the operation in their efforts to fight rampant stock theft activities in the district.
The worst affected areas in Matabeleland South are Shanyaugwe, Ngoma, Zezani, Tshitulipasi and Tuli areas in Gwanda and Beitbridge districts.
“We have intensified our operation and the net is closing in on the other suspects linked to the syndicate. As police we are also appealing to the community to assist us with
relevant information that could lead to more arrests,” he said.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said the suspects would appear in court soon on stock theft charges. Cattle ranching is the main economic activity for communities in Matabeleland South.
Some of the stolen cattle are reportedly smuggled into neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Mozambique.
In an effort to curb organised cross-border stock theft activities, some Beitbridge villagers living in areas along Limpopo River have since formed a joint anti-stock theft committee with their South African counterparts.
Villagers said most of their stolen livestock was smuggled into South Africa and Mozambique through Madimbo and Sengwe corridors.
Online Reporter