Cattle rustlers likely to spread FMD

Pini Bothoko | Monday June 13, 2022 06:00

The police continue to arrest stock theft suspects and confiscate stolen stock and indications are that indeed stock theft has become a paying job for perpetrators.

The Botswana Police Service (BPS) public relations officer, assistant commissioner Dipheko Motube said stock theft in the Boteti area remains a concern as officers continue to arrest suspects in possession of stolen cattle and carcasses. “We have arrested three men of Makalamabedi in possession of five cattle at Matsiara cattle post allegedly stolen at Mpayabana farm. The five cattle are three calves and two cows,” he said.

However, Motube said what they have seen on the ground is that cattle rustlers in the Boteti area are likely to spread FMD into the area because they have the habit of cutting veterinary cordon fence and track cattle from the red zone into the Boteti area. “This is one of the constraints in FMD control and I fear their move is likely to spread FMD. It’s risky behaviour because it is likely to spread the disease into the green zone of the Boteti area. Stock theft is currently bad in Boteti as zero tooth animals are mostly being targeted by organised criminal syndicates.

We have observed that these thieves steal calves from the Ngamiland district especially the unbranded calves,” Motube said. Motube added that as for older cattle, their market is butcheries that thrive on stolen stock.

He urged farmers to brand their livestock to curb stock theft as rustlers have the habit of targeting unbranded beasts being the zero tooth. “Zero-tooth animals are on demand because they sell at a high price at BMC.

These calves sell like fat cakes hence the target by stock theft criminals. As the police we have a vision to curb stock theft hence plead with farmers to help us eliminate anti-stock theft,” he said. Motube said some farmers’ lack of responsibility and accountability in branding and earmarking their cattle worsen the problem, and as a result a majority of them (farmers) end up losing their cattle because they cannot identify them. He pleaded with farmers to take good care of their cattle by feeding, watering and registering them. “I call on farmers to develop strong mechanisms that will prevent theft and be able to identify strangers in their areas to curb stock theft.

Cattle rearing has always been an integral part of the life of a Motswana and the major contributor of the economy in villages because for years Batswana have been known for pastoral farming,” Motube said. He pleaded with farmers to take care of their herdsmen and to visit their cattle posts more often and familiarise themselves with their livestock.

He further accused some farmers of spending months without paying their herdsman. Motube challenged farmers to be present farmers and stop abandoning their wealth at the cattle posts. “Some farmers have abandoned their animals, something that has resulted in their workers abandoning their animals and some failing to kraal them hence becoming easy targets for criminals. Farmers barely visit their cattle posts despite having brought pricey cattle,” Motube said.