ZNA hailed for combating cross border cattle rustling

sharp drop in cross-border cattle rustling in Chiredzi.
Most people in Chikombedzi district were losing hundreds of cattle every year to cattle rustlers who took the beasts to Mozambique where there is a lucrative market.
The cattle rustlers were taking advantage of the porous border between the two countries until the ZNA and police formed a joint operation to curb stock theft in the area.
4 Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Elias Bandama over the weekend said there had been a sharp drop in cross-border cattle rustling in Chikombedzi mainly because of increased patrols at the border by the ZNA and police force.
Brig Gen Bandama was speaking at an awards ceremony to honour outstanding officers at 4:3 Infantry battalion reserve force in Masvingo.
He lauded soldiers from the reserve force for beefing up security along the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique in southern Zimbabwe.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you our officers from 4:3 reserve force for the sterling work that you have been doing,” said Brig Gen Bandama.
“We will continue to secure our border with Mozambique a situation that has resulted in a sharp drop in cases of cross-border cattle rustling.
“Many Zimbabweans were losing a lot of cattle to rustlers into Mozambique but together with our police you managed to reduce cases of cross-border cattle rustling and I want to applaud you for that.”
Brig Gen Bandama urged the soldiers to continue assisting the police to secure the country’s border with Mozambique to curb various cross-border illicit deals other than cattle rustling.
“We as soldiers will always be on hand to assist the police and make sure that not only is there peace but also security.
“I am pleased with the role that has been played by our soldiers especially in joint border operations with our police force,” said Brig Gen Bandama.
While cross-border cattle rustling had significantly dropped due to the increased patrols, Brig Gen Bandama also said there were other illicit deals such as smuggling of clothes and minerals along the Zimbabwe and Mozambican border that had also been significantly reduced. Brig Gen Bandama challenged soldiers to always strive to maintain discipline and good behaviour saying those were key to a successful defence force.
Turning to 4:3 infantry brigade Brig Gen Bandama bemoaned lack of funding for stifling efforts to build better and more structures at the battalion’s premises on the outskirts of Masvingo city.
He assured soldiers from the 4:3 Infantry battalion reserve force that government would build new flats to accommodate the officers once funds were available.
Brig Gen Bandama later award outstanding soldiers from 4:3 Infantry battalion reserve force who excelled in such categories as discipline, punctuality, dedication to duty and smartness.