Over 500 cattle stolen so far this year

Over 400 cases of stock theft have been reported between December 2023 and now.

Botswana Police spokesperson, Dipheko Motube said in the 439 reported cases, 551 cattle were affected of which 262 were recovered and 289 were not found. According to Motube, they have so far arrested 168 suspects in relation to stock theft cases, 162 are men and three are women.

Among them is one South African and one Zimbabwean man. Motube cautioned members of the public to stop selling cows to suspects who claim to own meat business entities and end up taking their cattle without giving them money. He noted that in most cases, they receive cases from victims stating that someone approached them and wanted cattle in exchange for money and later on, the person cuts communication. According to Motube, these cases end up as civil matters, which should be reported at customary courts not the police. “As the police we register cases of obtaining by false pretense in such instances,” said Motube. Motube noted that in an effort to deal with such cases in Bobonong and surrounding areas, they launched a Bi-National Commission between Botswana and Zimbabwe to conduct joint investigations, patrols and share intelligence . Motube indicated that as a result of the collaboration between the two countries, there has been reduction in stock theft. KgomoKhumo, which was launched in Shakwe village on February 20, 2019 covering Palapye, Maunatlala, Seolwane, Tobane, Tshimoyapula, Mokgware and other areas was a focused operation intended to buttress existing stock theft interventions.