admin
The Herald, July 26, 1979
FARMERS attending the RNFU congress in Salisbury yesterday asked the Government to mete out harsher treatment to stock thieves than the mandatory nine-year sentence they now receive.
This request came during a question-and-answer session in which the farmers related their difficulties arising from cattle theft to the Minister of Law and Order, Mr Francis Zindoga.
The Minister said: “You complain that the penalty provided for stock theft is too light. I can assure you that the legislation is in the offing to increase the penalty for stock theft. The people who think they can get away with stock theft are in for a shock. I want to assure you that we will leave no stone unturned in trying to bring this to an end.”
One of the farmers said: “We have unanimously decided to vacate our area. I will be the first to go in a month’s time. I have leased property in another area. We have lost, in our area more than 25 percent of our herd. We have been subjected to attacks and whatever. We believe lives are more important than cattle, and we are not prepared to lose another life.
“The problem is that we have, deployed in our area, a lot of auxiliaries who are not properly trained.”
In reply, the Minister said: “We are training the auxiliaries discipline. There is a weeding-out of unsuitable people”.
The President of RNFU, Mr Denis Norman, said: “The delegate says he is pulling out. I think for a long-time, farmers in this country have been taken for granted.
“I think probably the day has arrived when those who continue to take them for granted could be making a mistake.
“This is not in any way meant to be a threat. This is merely put forward as a warning. If remedial action is not taken to rectify the position, do not be surprised if you find the back door is open and someone has disappeared.
“This is what is going to happen in the end. People will not stick around forever . . . and I think that point must be taken by the Government.”
Another farmer wanted to know if there was a time limit for liberation war fighters to come on sides. The Minister replied that Bishop Muzorewa had given a directive to all Members of Parliament to go out to meet “those people” and talk to them.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- Cattle rustling has become a cancer that is affecting a lot of farmers, and this requires law enforcement agencies to step up monitoring movements of cattle.
- Farmers should ensure that their cattle are branded for ease of identification, especially when they are lost or stolen.
- Farmers should ensure that their cattle pens are secured and that they deploy adequate security especially at night.
- Legislators should ensure that they enact stiff penalties to deter would-be perpetrators.
Online Reporter