Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
POLICE in Beitbridge, with the support of community members, have successfully smashed a well-orchestrated cattle rustling syndicate that had been operating in the district for over a year.
Twelve suspects have been arrested, including six alleged rustlers, five meat buyers from Beitbridge town, and a transporter, in connection with the syndicate.
The gang is reported to have killed scores of cattle during their reign of terror, with police detectives linking them to the theft and slaughter of 41 cattle so far.
Acting police officer commanding Beitbridge district, Superintendent Philisani Ndebele, said the arrests followed a tip-off.
“We reacted to information from members of the public and arrested meat vendors. They led us to five of the suspects who were in the habit of stealing cattle and supplying them. During further investigations, we arrested another suspect and their transporter,” said Supt Ndebele.
“So far we have recovered fresh carcasses and skulls of the cattle they had slaughtered at various bushy sites around Beitbridge town. In total, we have carcasses, skulls, and meat from 41 cattle. Some have been positively identified by their owners. We are also calling those with missing or reported stock theft to come to the main police station for identification.”
Supt Ndebele said investigations were ongoing to establish if the gang is linked to more reported cases.
He encouraged community members to report all stock theft cases and provide vital information to assist police in bringing criminals to book.
He also said that four other people had been arrested in connection with the theft of 47 goats in the Shashe area, with 24 goats recovered in the Tshituripasi area.
“We are working with other line stakeholders to ensure we destroy these syndicates. At the same time, we want to discourage people from perpetuating this crime through buying meat from vendors,” he said.
