Nkayi anti-stocktheft drive pays dividends

COMMUNITIES in Nkayi District, Matabeleland North Province, have formed an ‘Anti-Stock Theft-Azibuye Emasisweni’ initiative aimed at tackling cattle rustlers head-on, which has seen cases significantly dropping.

The Anti-Stock Theft-Azibuye Emasisweni drive was initiated by four villagers in April last year, in response to prevalent cases of stock theft and has spread to other districts in Matabeleland North and Midlands provinces.

Cases of stock theft are rampant across the country and rustlers hit farmers including those in communities along borders, working with cross-border syndicates to steal livestock.

On average, between 5 000 and 10 000 cases of stock theft are reported each year in the country, according to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Anti-Stock Theft Unit.

Police and local authorities have over the years implemented some strategies including anti-stock theft operations and awareness campaigns, to reduce criminal activities driven largely by demand for meat at butcheries across the country.

The Anti-Stock Theft-Azibuye Emasisweni initiative, thus, buttresses Government efforts to grow the livestock sector and raising awareness among community members is vital.

Speaking in Nkayi recently, association chairperson, Mr Country Moyo from Sivomo under Chief Madliwa said anti-stock theft teams had been established almost in each village in Sivomo where it started, Mbazhe, Mtshabi, Nesigwe, Mateme, Sembewule, Gababe, Tohwe, Zinyangeni, Guwe and Lupane as well as Malisa, Zhombe, Nyaje and Gokwe in the Midlands.

“We formed this association on 11 April last year because we were concerned about the prevalence of stock theft cases and how people were losing their cattle,” he said.

“I initiated the idea seeing the value of livestock in our culture and I approached three villagers and we agreed to seek authority from our village heads,who gave us the green light,” said Mr Moyo.

Other pioneers are Mr Thomas Ncube from Mbazhe, Mr Khulumani Sibanda and Mr Sicelo Ngwenya from Sivomo.

Mr Moyo said traditional leaders quickly embraced the idea hence the initiative was able to spread faster to other areas.

He said the association mobilises villagers,so that whenever they spot any suspicious movement of livestock they quickly alert the group members, who then send force teams and at the same time report to the police.

Some villagers had lost as much as 20 head of cattle to thieves before the formation of the group and some suspects have been arrested and prosecuted as a result while farmers recovered their cattle.

Mr Moyo said community members have internalised the strategy of reporting any vehicle spotted carrying livestock, so that police check for official documents. “The situation was bad as livestock theft was high. We formed force teams in every community and we are glad that since we started no beast has been stolen as we have recovered many and caused the arrest of the thieves,” he said.

“When we realised that this was working we sold the idea to surrounding areas. We would intercept cattle from Lupane, Gokwe and Gokwe and so we also approached leaders there hence we are doing this programme in Chiefs Dakamala, Madliwa, Tshugulu, Sivalo, and Malisa, as well as others in Gokwe and Zhombe and we have been working with the police and villagers who are grateful because stock theft cases have gone down,” said Mr Moyo.

“Most of the cases have established that some vehicles that carry livestock would be having no clearance documents but we are happy that this has gone down as police have been alerted to intercept many such cars and arrest the suspects,” he added.

The Anti-Stock Theft-Azibuye Emasisweni received an award for transforming the community during the ‘Imiklomelo KaDakamela’ ceremony held on Saturday at Chief Dakamela’s homestead.

The programme buttresses the Government’s calls for farmers to brand their cattle and update stock cards as ways of preventing theft. Chief director for the Veterinary Services Department in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Pious Makaya is on record saying farmers across the country should embrace branding. – @ncubeleon.