Stock theft in Mat South increase, Mat North decrease

CASES of stock theft have been going down in Matabeleland North while Matabeleland South continues to witness rampant cases of theft as a result of limited attention from farmers, police have said.

In an interview, National Co-ordinator Anti-Stock Theft, Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza said Matabeleland North recorded 334 cases between January and October while Matabeleland South recorded 476 cases during the same 10 months.

“This year in Matabeleland South, we received 476 reports where 1 715 cattle were stolen. In Matabeleland North 334 reports were filled for 837 stolen cattle. This year, however, the cases in Matabeleland South increased because last year only 1 505 cattle were stolen. The numbers in Matabeleland North have been decreasing simultaneously, where last year 889 cattle were stolen and this year only 837 cattle were stolen,” he said.

Snr Asst Comm Makodza said this year, the police have recovered 843 cattle leading to 193 arrests in the two provinces.

“Out of 2 552 cattle stolen this year, we managed to recover 843 cattle, 441 were from Matabeleland South, where we arrested 133 people, and in Matabeleland North we arrested 60 people and recovered 402 cattle and the most notorious area in Matabeleland South is Shanyaugwe in Beitbridge,” said Snr Asst Comm Makodza.

He said Matabeleland North was showing a significant decrease in stock theft cases. He said stock theft was high in Matabeleland South because farmers were not looking after their livestock as they leave them to roam freely and only round them up towards the rainy season.

“People from Matabeleland South do not herd their cattle, and that practice is not rampant in Matabeleland North. By so doing their cattle can be stolen while grazing in the bush, we encourage people to follow their cattle,” he said.

Snr Asst Comm Makodza said they were coming up with innovative ways to reduce stock theft. Farmers should brand their cattle, and keep records of them, he said.

“Farmers should pen their cattle regularly, and take them to dip tanks because that is when they can realise that their cattle are missing.

“In Matabeleland South however, they don’t dip their cattle regularly, one of the reasons why Matabeleland is a red zone region.

“We introduced the Personal Branding Act to encourage farmers to brand their cattle. The veterinary also introduced the ward brand to control cattle movement from one region to the other. Matabeleland North was quick to embrace personal branding, most of their cattle are branded.

“We are still trying to stop free movement of cattle, people are supposed to clear their stock with the police and the veterinary before selling. We also set up bases at all border posts to deal with cross border cattle rustling,” he said.

Snr Asst Comm Makodza also said thieves were now targeting goats and donkeys.

“Nowadays there is a disturbing trend of people stealing goats and donkeys. We encourage people to stop selling donkeys because they don’t multiply as fast as cattle,” he said.