Online Reporter
Hazel Chitepo
Post Correspondent
POLICE in Manicaland are intensifying the fight against stock theft by strengthening liaison committees to improve coordination and information sharing between law enforcement and communities.
The police this week held an awareness campaign at Nharira Secondary School in Mutare Rural District.
The campaign brought together police officers, farmers and stakeholders from the livestock and meat industries to discuss practical measures for curbing the crime.
The key focus was to strengthen the Anti-Stock Theft Liaison Committees to improve coordination and information sharing between law enforcement and communities.
Authorities also urged farmers to adopt responsible livestock management, including daily herding, proper penning and regular counting of animals. They stressed the need for timely reporting of theft, warning that delays hinder recovery, while reminding farmers to comply with clearance procedures such as using the ZRP Livestock Clearance Certificate (Form 392) and branding or ear-tagging animals to improve traceability.
National Coordinator of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Commissioner Tambudzai Joyleen Mazambani underscored the critical role livestock plays in rural economies, saying it goes beyond food and is central to farming, education and cultural practices.
“Livestock is not only for consumption; it is a cornerstone of rural livelihoods. It is used for draught power in the fields, to pay children’s school fees, and even for cultural obligations such as lobola. When livestock is stolen, families lose not just animals but their wealth and means of survival,” she said.
Officer Commanding Police in Manicaland Province, Commissioner Charles Nhete reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to tackling stock theft in the district, saying law enforcement is stepping up efforts to prevent the crime and protect communities from further losses.
Assistant Commissioner Nhete urged farmers to work closely with police by promptly reporting cases and maintaining proper livestock records. He stressed that compliance with clearance procedures, branding and ear-tagging remains critical to improving traceability and deterring theft.
“As police, our focus is on prevention through community engagement. We want farmers to work closely with us so that cases are detected early and offenders are brought to justice,” he said.
The campaign formed part of the police broader efforts to strengthen community policing and build partnerships aimed at reducing stock theft, which continues to pose a serious threat to rural livelihoods across the province.
