adminTawanda Mangoma
Villagers from Chiredzi South constituency have lost more than 600 cattle to rustlers since January, the constituency’s MP has disclosed.
In an address during an Information and Media Panel of Inquiry meeting held at Chikombedzi on Thursday, Retired General Kalisto Gwanetsa said Chikombedzi Police Station has indicated that the beasts have since been taken to Mozambique.
Cde Gwanetsa said lack of good communication infrastructure in the area makes it difficult for victims to file reports on time.
“Last week Chikombedzi Police Station told me that more than 600 cattle were stolen from Chiredzi South Constituency alone. I am talking about reported cases here which means the figure could be much higher,” he said.
He said the lack of basic communication infrastructure in the area was causing negative multiplier effects which haunt villagers in their day to day lives.
“How will they contact the police even if they see armed cattle rustlers driving their cattle to Mozambique? There are no mobile phone networks, the roads are very bad and at times the rivers are impassable for almost four months because of flooding,” said Cde Gwanetsa.
The councillor for Ward 11, Hebert Hasani, said sometimes when villagers file reports, police inform them that they cannot make follow ups due to lack of transport.
“Sometimes villagers manage to report cases of stock theft but the police’s response is very slow. Sometimes the station would be without a vehicle,” said councillor Hasani.
One villager bemoaned the unavailability of abattoirs in their area saying that was denying them a profitable market.
Another villager said government must consider constructing a tarred road that links Chiredzi and Sango Border Post.
derick.khumalo