Fighting stock theft should be collective effort

Mmegi Editor | Monday May 30, 2022 06:00

Within this form of farming come challenges such as drought, diseases and stock theft amongst others.

From these difficulties, stock theft is becoming a bane to pastoralists either those who rear cattle or small stock.

Stealing of cattle is causing great misery to farmers in Botswana, especially those in rural communities who largely depend on agriculture for sustenance.

The scourge is currently rampant countrywide as zero-tooth animals are being targeted mostly by organised criminal syndicates. The calves commonly known as zero-tooth are in high demand in the market hence being the targets of cattle rustlers.

It has also been established that the cattle rustlers have kraals in the bushes on the outskirts where they brand and keep the stolen beasts before selling them either to the Botswana Meat Commission or local butcheries.

The rampant stock theft as a result is keeping law enforcement officers on their toes. Every week, members of the Botswana Police Service (BPS) arrest suspects and confiscate stolen livestock, which is an indication that stock theft might have become a paying job for perpetrators.

The rising cases have also spurred BPS into action by re-launching their anti-stock theft operation in Boteti recently. We therefore, join the BPS in encouraging local farmers to take good care of their cattle by feeding, watering and registering them. It is concerning that some farmers have become irresponsible and lack accountability in branding and earmarking their livestock as a result worsening the problem. In the end, a majority of the farmers end up losing their cattle because they cannot identify them.

We also implore some of the weekend farmers to visit their meraka regularly to check on their livestock. As things are, some have been accused of abandoning their animals as they barely visit their cattleposts. Equally, butcheries should desist from buying livestock that cannot be traced. A majority of butcheries are complicit in stock theft, as they appear to be relying on stolen livestock for supplies. With cattle rearing becoming a fall back for many in the absence of formal jobs, Batswana need to come together and fight stock theft. If not taken head-on, this scourge threatens the livelihood of an ordinary Motswana. Therefore, its prevention should be a collective effort.

Once you suspect a neighbour, do the right thing and alert the relevant authorities. It is our civil duty to protect our properties including livestock.

“Cow protection means protection of the weak, the helpless, the dumb and the deaf.”

–Mahatma Gandhi