Stolen meat galore in schools
Pini Bothoko | Monday October 2, 2023 06:00
The BPS’ spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube, said unlike the previous weeks, the arrests have relatively reduced and this is being explained by the shortage of meat in the area and the impact is being felt as far as Gaborone.
He further stated that stock theft syndicates have been supplying stolen meat throughout the country and since they have invaded the area, scarcity of meat will soon be felt.
“We have since established that some schools were supplied with stolen meat. Most meat suppliers were relying on stolen meat for their supplies in schools and since the operation started, they are struggling to source meat to supply schools on time. They were buying stolen cattle from stock theft syndicates and supplied schools,” he said.
He said a number of people have won tenders to supply schools with meat and they have since established that they were relying on stock theft criminals for their supplies since they are now struggling to meet the targets. He said Mahalapye, Palapye and Gaborone are classified as hot spots for stolen meat and meat scarcity has since hit these areas.
“For a while now butcheries, bo-mmaseapei, and schools were being supplied with stolen meat and that has to stop. Stolen cattle are slaughtered in kraals located in the bush and the said syndicates have been supplying stolen meat throughout the country. The operation has unearthed criminals and will continue to expose criminals who have been stealing livestock in the area,” Motube said. Motube also said butcheries should brace themselves for random surprise inspections in order to have a clean market.
He further stated that their impact in the area is evident as even prices of meat have gone up. “Even butcheries that were selling meat at lower prices in Gaborone that used to have long queues, that is no longer the case, such butcheries are also struggling with the supply and have increased their prices. A clear indication that indeed most businesses rely on stolen livestock for their businesses,” he said. Moreover, Motube revealed that they have been charging people who have been slaughtering their cattle at cattle posts and supplying butcheries and schools with meat P2,000 because that meat should be tested before it could be consumed.
“The law is clear; those people have been ignoring the livestock meat regulation Act which states that every meat should be tested before it could be consumed. Recently we addressed a full council meeting in Palapye and pleaded with councillors to educate members of the community on this Act before they could find themselves on the wrong side of the law,” he said.
He further stated that they have also held a meeting with farmers to take care of their animals and sensitise them more on this Act. “Even if the cattle are yours, one is not allowed to slaughter it and supply either butcheries or schools with that meat without being tested. We have also pleaded with farmers to take care of their animals because we have since observed that some farmers’ lack of responsibility and accountability in branding and earmarking their cattle worsen the problem and as a result, the majority of them (farmers) end up losing their cattle because they cannot identify them,” he said. He said the number of cattle in the area has reduced because back in 2015 there were 140, 834 cattle and in 2019 there were 98,494 cattle, a reduction of 42, 340 cattle.
As for the Mahalapye district, Motube said back in 2015 there were 130,390 cattle and in 2019 there were 72, 176 cattle which shows that farmers lost 58, 214 cattle. He said this shows that the number of cattle has reduced and these were attributed to drought, mismanagement of livestock and stock theft hence the introduction of the Kgomo Khumo anti-stock theft operation.