Zim-BW cross-border cattle rustling a concern
Mompati Tlhankane | Monday June 27, 2022 06:00
This follows the February third session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe where Botswana officials raised the issue of cross-border cattle rustling.
Speaking on Tuesday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and Security, Botlhale Makgekgenene reminded the Commissioner of Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), General Tandabantu Godwin Matanga that one of the main concerns raised by BNC is livestock rustling.
She therefore, appealed to both Botswana and Zimbabwean police to come up with strategies to enable them to effectively curb the problem. Commissioner General Matanga had paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Defence and Security Kagiso Mmusi.
Makgekgenene also pointed out by assuring Matanga that Botswana remains resolute in her support for strategic cooperation between the two countries it was evident that both countries are working towards the full implementation of the agreements of BNC as they have increased police base camps along the border consequently enhancing police visibility.
Makgekgenene applauded the Commissioner for his commitment in ensuring that the BNC resolutions pertaining to the police mandate are implemented.
For his part, Matanga expressed gratitude for the working collaboration between the two police services. He assured the meeting that the two police services were committed to combating stock theft.
Meanwhile, acting Police Commissioner for Botswana, Phemelo Ramakorwane commended the two Police Services for engaging in interventions geared towards combating cross-border crime. He indicated that the increased number of base camps along the border have resulted in positive outcomes as there were less incidents of stock theft recorded recently. Ramakorwane appreciated the continued good working relations existing between the two Police Services.
The ZRP Commissioner and his delegation are on a four-day visit to BPS for the assessment of progress on the implementation of the agreements of the Bi-National Commission. While here, they will also tour the base camps along the border.
Following the Commission held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa established an inter-ministerial committee to tackle cross-border cattle rustling along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border. The inter-ministerial committee is chaired by Zimbabwe Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Kazembe Kazembe.
For many years now the issue of cross-border cattle rustling where stolen cattle from Botswana are smuggled into neighbouring Zimbabwe has been a concern for both countries. This issue is topical in the sense that it affects communities on both sides of the border. The two countries have since have agreed to electronically tag cattle for communities living along the border. Zimbabwe and Botswana also agreed that there was a need to electronically tag the cattle along the border, especially at Mlambaphele where the programme was pioneered.
The leaders felt the need to urgently address this issue of cattle rustling as per agreements made by two countries during the third session of Bi-National Commission.
In Botswana, BPS’ Kgomo-Khumo anti-stock theft operation returned to operation few months ago after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The operation has resulted in arresting a lot of suspects along the Boteti where zero-toothed animals were being targeted by criminal syndicates.
BPS spokesperson, Dipheko Motube has in the past indicated that livestock rustling is causing great misery to farmers in Botswana therefore his office aims to bring back Batswana’s confidence in farming through cracking down on livestock theft. He said they had realised that some farmers had given up altogether on cattle rearing no wonder they wanted to make their presence felt through re-launching the kgomo-khumo operation.