Public advised to report stray animals
Pini Bothoko | Monday July 22, 2024 06:00
The plea was made by Botswana Police Service’s (BPS) assistant public relations officer, Assistant Superintendent Selebatso Mooketsi currently behind the ongoing police’s Kgomo-Khumo anti-stock theft campaign. Mooketsi has observed with concern that most stock theft syndicates have the habit of targeting stray animals for their own benefit. “Members of the public should assist us to curb stock theft by reporting matimela to any council offices and Dikgosi. We have since observed that some criminals keep matimela (stray animals) in their kraals and then brand and mark their offspring. In most cases they end up killing the dams to the offsprings (cow) to destroy evidence,” she said.
Mooketsi stated that stray cattle are often slaughtered in the bush or in abandoned farms at night, where the heads and skins are disposed off and carcass is then transported to butcheries and other meat outlets. She further revealed that usually criminals steal stray animals, deface the original brand mark of the owner and then brand the animals with their own brand. “People should know that not reporting a stray animal is against the law, it’s a crime to keep, slaughter and sell cattle or any livestock that is not yours. Some people keep stray animals amongst their livestock so that they can breed and they brand their calves for themselves. “We continue to arrest and charge people after we have found them in possession of cattle and other livestock that they fail to account for something which clearly shows some people keep stray animals for themselves,” she said.
She further revealed that in some instances criminals slaughter stray animals and sell their meat to butcheries something that she said fuels stock theft hence pleading with farmers to take care of their animals. However, Mooketsi pleaded with farmers to form anti-stock theft committees so that they can know each other’s livestock and be able to identify stray animals in their areas. She added that through these committees as the police they can also easily share information on livestock theft trends, prevention techniques and other useful information. “We always encourage farmers to maintain good relations with their neighbours so that they can watch over their livestock in their absence. Stray animals fuel crime that is why we encourage people to report them to the relevant authorities Moreover, farmers should also take part in community policing as it calls for partnerships in addressing the root causes of community problems especially that all concerned stakeholders would actively participate,” she said.
She revealed to have been holding kgotla meetings pleading with farmers to form committees because they have established with these committees some farmers are able to fight stock theft in their areas. She further disclosed that through community outreach programs as the police they are able to hear farmers’ concerns and how best they can help them curb stock theft. Furthermore, Mooketsi said through Kgomo-khumo they also want to revive farmers’ confidence in farming and they have been doing so by fighting stock theft and encouraging farmers to look after animals. “We have been holding community outreach programmes and are bearing fruits because we had visited some areas without farmers ‘committees and farmers managed to form them following our visit and they have been working collectively to help the police curb stock theft. Cattle rustling is causing great misery to farmers, especially in rural communities that largely depend on agriculture for a living but we are confident that if farmers can join hands we can curb stock theft,” Mooketsi said.