Stock theft on the rise in Kavango East
RUNDU – The police in Kavango East have expressed worry over increasing livestock theft recorded in the region. As a result, law enforcement officers are setting up sting operations to curb the growing theft. On Wednesday morning, two adult men were found in possession of two carcasses which the police suspect it was stolen cattle.
A third suspect evaded arrest and is on the run. “The suspects were found in possession of two suspected livestock carcases at their place at Kehemu location in Rundu during a police operation. The cattle carcases are valued at an estimated N$12 000,” said crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu. The police conducted a sting operation between Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
“We managed to arrest two suspects but one managed to escape. But we are tracing him. In this case it appears that they went and gathered several cattle and they slaughtered two. It happened just some few kilometres south of Rundu, near Mavandje village,” Kanyetu said. “With the suspects that we arrested they showed us an ear tag indicating the cattle is from Mangetti area but they killed it near Mavandje village but we suspected that they were lying and we took them in. We are still trying to establish the owners.”
Farmers in the region have been complaining of the rising cases of stock theft in the region, with their cattle disappearing with no trace. “Stock theft is becoming a problem in the region and that is why we initiated an operation because we want to get to the bottom of this,” Kanyetu said. According to the police, it appears there are some organised groups of people behind the stock theft in the region.
“They are using some boys in villages and areas to gather people’s cattle and then they kill or transport them while alive. We have also discovered that after slaughtering this cattle they sell the meat on the street and their skins are being dumped in the floodplains. We have devised a strategy and we are going to fish out these culprits behind it. We have received reports that some stolen livestock is being kept in some hidden kraals in the inland.”
- jmuyamba@nepc.com.na