Farmers demand return of stolen cattle
Acluster of farmers from the Eiseb Block and Epukiro constituency in the Omaheke region is planning to stage a peaceful demonstration at Farm Houmoed, where their cattle have been kept for almost three to four years now.
Farm Houmoed is government farmland where suspected stolen animals are kept until magistrate court cases are over, or reasonably dealt with.
The protracted cases of cattle rustling and the inaccessibility of Farm Houmoed are becoming a huge concern for farmers whose cattle have been kept at the farm, as they do not know how long the cases will run and if they will ever get their stolen cattle back.
Sandi Tjaronda, a member of the Community Against Stock Theft Organisation (CASO), recently shared with AgriTodaythat the farmers are becoming concerned about the credibility and effectiveness of Farm Houmoed.
The concerned farmers’ numerous attempts to visit or get updates on the state of their stolen animals at Farm Houmoed are allegedly constantly blocked by the authorities.
“We were told by the police that we are under no circumstances allowed to enter the farm. We were further informed that the only person who may be granted permission is the accused,” shared Tjaronda, who is also one of the affected farmers.
“Where does this farm draw its custody mandate from and by which laws of the land? Is it not in direct violation of certain statutory legal instruments, including the constitution? he asked.
The farmers are now demanding the immediate return of all animals that were unlawfully confiscated from CASO during the raid at Ovituua, where many stolen cattle were recovered.
According to Tjaronda, some rightful owners of these cattle passed on, and demands are that the cattle be returned to the lawful owners or to their next of kin.
The farmers are also calling for the immediate suspension of holding rights of the said farm, subject to a credible investigation conducted by a legitimate independent body.
Big fish
Meanwhile, Leonardville police station commander Ursula Binga recently appeared before the Gobabis Magistrate’s Court, and was granted bail of N$4 000 after she was arrested for stock theft. The matter was postponed to 3 July 2024 for further investigations.
According to Omaheke police regional commander Andreas Haingura, it is alleged that the suspect unlawfully and intentionally stole sheep belonging to a complainant from the police station.
The sheep were brought to the station as lost and found property/ stock without the owner’s consent. It is alleged that the stolen small livestock belonged to Patrobas Ngarizemo, a farmer from Farm Vlakwater in Leonardville.