Police worried about cattle theft cases in Masvingo

POLICE in Masvingo have expressed concern over the continued increase in cases of cattle rustling in the province and are calling on farmers to collaborate with them in fighting the scourge.

Although the province recorded a 17 percent decrease in overall stocktheft cases for the first six months of the year from last year’s 556 to 462 cases this year, a worrying 60 percent increase in the number of cattle rustling cases was recorded from 331 in 2021 to 528 this year between January and June.

Speaking during the anti-stock theft awareness campaign that was launched in Gutu, Officer Commanding Masvingo Province Senior Assistant Commissioner David Mahoya said despite the marginal decreases in overall stocktheft cases, the figures remain a cause for concern to the police.

“Indeed, the launch has come at a time when there is rampant stocktheft cases in the province. Livestock is an important economic pillar towards the achievement of National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) as well as Government priority on food security and nutrition. Resultantly, the need to protect the national herd cannot be overemphasized and as such the ZRP is concerned with the current cattle stocktheft trend in the province,” said Snr Asst Comm Mahoya.

“To this end, Masvingo Province wishes to inform the public that for the period extending from January to June 2022, a total of 462 cases of stock theft involving all forms of livestock were received this year as compared to 556 during the same period in year 2021, resulting in a 17 percent decrease. A total of 528 cattle were stolen this year compared to 331 in the year 2021 giving a 60 percent increase. Police managed to arrest 69 accused persons for stocktheft involving cattle this year compared to 68 during the same period in 2021,” he said.

He encouraged members of the community to work hand in hand with the police to fight the scourge of stocktheft and to embrace strategies that have been put in place such as to timeously report cases of stolen stock and to make sure that they properly clear their livestock with the police.

He also encouraged farmers to brand and ear tag their livestock to improve traceability and identification.

“The ZRP created the Anti-Stock Theft Unit whose mandate is solely to fight the scourge of stocktheft cases. Our police officers remain committed to reducing cases of stocktheft in the country. I request you to give tip-offs to the police through suggestion boxes or telephone calls. Failure to report suspects of stock theft may be good today but remember tomorrow you can be the victim of stocktheft,” he warned.