Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE Beitbridge community has come together to put an end to the scourge of stock theft following the arrest of 12 notorious suspects on Sunday afternoon.
Among the suspects are six alleged rustlers, five meat buyers and a taxi driver, who have been working together since March last year.
Through a combination of vigilance, co-operation with law enforcement, and community-led initiatives, residents have successfully managed to bring the culprits to book.
The gang targeted mainly goats, donkeys and cattle and mainly operated between Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The gang reportedly 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 from the community.
“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 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.
An anti-stock theft activist from the Musane community, Mr Piuson Siziba, said the turning point came when local farmers, traditional leaders, and residents joined forces to form a community-led initiative aimed at combating stock theft.
The group, known as the Beitbridge Anti-Stock Theft Committee, was working closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to identify and apprehend stock thieves.
Mr Siziba said they also acquired motorbikes to enhance patrols across the district to reduce the menacing crime of stock theft.
“We are happy with the support the community is giving to us and the police. Livestock is a major economic activity at the household level and hence we have decided to stand up to curb this crime,” he said.
Mr Maxwell Masuku from the Mahapa area in Beitbridge West commended the relations between the police and the community.
“It’s sad that we have some people creating a ready market for stolen livestock. I am happy that through our efforts we have managed to round up several criminals, and we are not stopping,” he said.
“I want to encourage people to join such community policing forums at the ward level so that we fight crime with one vision.
“At the same time, I am calling upon the Beitbridge Municipality to play ball by raiding all those illegal meat vendors who are fuelling stock theft in the community.”
Beitbridge Municipality’s councillor for Ward 4, Emmanuel Takutaku, who also visited the local police station with disgruntled residents, said the days of those engaged in illegal business activities were numbered.
“We are equally worried about this trend where people buy or sell meat in buckets. Besides fuelling crime, it exposes the communities to the dangers of buying un-inspected meat.
“Through our municipality police, we will tighten screws in implementing by-laws,” said Clr Takutaku. —@tupeyo
