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MOST farmers from all over the country were recently very happy with the deterrent sentence which was passed on one of the stock thieves who was slapped with a nine-year jail sentence.
It surprises me so much that although cases of stock theft were increasing in all the provinces judgments passed by magistrates were not deterrent enough and thieves continued with their illegal business as if there was no law in this country, but we were happy to hear that the stock thieves who were causing havoc in some parts of Manicaland Province were arrested and were slapped with long jail sentences.
We all know that cattle are a backbone to the Zimbabwean economy and it’s a big blow to our agriculture when our farmers are losing their cattle to the cattle rustlers like that.
The law should also descend heavily upon those who buy stolen domestic animals from thieves because buyers are the ones who are promoting stock theft since they provide a ready market for stolen cattle. Thieves and buyers should be treated the same way and must be given harsh sentences which will be a big lesson to other people.
Fighting stock theft in Zimbabwe should be all-inclusive and residents must play their part by reporting to police all suspected stock thieves.
Many farmers in places such as Beitbridge, Gwanda, Plumtree and Mberengwa have long been crying for help from the police as they complained that thieves were now about to finish all their cattle but to their surprise those arrested were not being given stiffer penalties. We hope to see a change this time.
Eddious Masundire Shumba,Bulawayo.
Online Reporter