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A NEW crop of thieves has emerged in Masvingo, targeting irrigation equipment from surrounding farms, amid reports that a number of indigenous farmers have lost more $100 000 worth of equipment comprising pipes, valves and ploughs.
Affected farmers who spoke to Sunday News recently, said they had reported the cases to the police but the suspects continued to pounce on the farms almost every week.
They said some of the stolen equipment had been identified but the police had not helped the situation because the culprits were yet to be brought to book.
A village head and plot holder at Panganayi Section B Irrigation Scheme under Chief Nhema, Mr James Chiwaya, said farmers were already counting their losses after expending their energies working on the fields only to be deprived of expensive and important equipment.
The reports come hard on the heels of a similar case reported in Masvingo where Minister of Power and Energy Development, Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire, lost farm equipment worth millions of dollars to thieves last week.
Cde Mavhaire confirmed that his farm in Masvingo had been ransacked by thieves but could not shed more light, saying police were still investigating when contacted for comment.
“Yes, thieves went to my farm and stole equipment but I am still waiting for police to finish their investigations,” he said.
Mr Chiwaya said some of the culprits were well known but nothing had been done to them despite positively identifying some of the stolen equipment in their possession.
He said Government should intervene so that culprits are brought to book.
He said the irrigation scheme which has 30 members carrying out different crop farming activities remained the main source of livelihood for a number of families within Chiwaya Village. Farmers at the irrigation scheme are involved in growing beans, maize, tomatoes and other vegetables which they market at Jerera Growth Point, nearby.
“We are spending sleepless nights because of thieves that come during the night removing our pipes from our plots here at Panganayi Irrigation. We have reported our case to the police at Zaka Police but we have not got any response,” said the village head.
“We have lost pipes, both asbestos and PVC to these thieves. Some of the stolen pipes have been sold to nearby farms and we have identified them but no-one is coming to our rescue to have them back. We reported the case to the police but no meaningful action is taken – law enforcers are not living up to our expectations.”
He said the 80-hectare irrigation scheme was now heading for extinction due to the disappearance of equipment, adding that the farmers only used less than half of the land due to the “sabotage” done by some jealous people who steal farm equipment.
“This is pure sabotage by people who might not have benefited. The equipment that we are using has a 40-year warrantee but this is not a licence for people to deprive us of our families’ livelihoods. Out of 80 hectares, we are only using less than half given lack of capacity caused by shortage of equipment as a result of these thieves.
“As if that is not enough, the big gate valve at Siye Dam was also stolen, thereby disturbing the flow of water to the irrigation via the canals,” he said.
While Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula could not be reached for comment, an officer at Ministry of Agriculture’s irrigation department confirmed that his office received the reports and said they were waiting for police to complete their investigations.
“While, I am not supposed to talk to the media due to professional reasons, a report on theft of irrigation equipment in Zaka came to our office last week. We are equally perturbed by these people’s actions. We hope police will close in on such unscrupulous people,” said an officer who chose to remain anonymous.
Online Reporter