Kesupile calls for indigenous livestock identification
Mpho Mokwape | Friday June 5, 2015 16:34
Kesupile said, during the recent sitting, that the indigenous knowledge system should be accommodated in courts especially in the wake of the rising stock theft cases, disputes and loss in the country.
“Indigenous identification of livestock should be considered in our courts because lots of people lose their livestock especially cattle when they are not branded despite one having an extensive knowledge of how they can identify them, other than the commonly used and visible numerical branding,” he said.
“Many farmers know distinctive ways of identifying their stock, a farmer can know a spot in his stock that not any other person knows and such things should be used as part of identification so as people do not lose their livestock easily,” he said.
He said despite the branding of cattle using the alphanumerical being one of the oldest and best ways to permanently identify livestock easily indigenous knowledge also could also act as an exclusive identification.
Kesupile said it could serve as an excellent safeguard against livestock theft, loss or dispute. He had wanted to know from AoJ when it appeared before PAC if there was anyway the system could be accommodated in the court of law especially that people know are able to identify their livestock distinctively.
In response, the Registrar and Master of the High Court, Michael Motlhabi said at the moment there was no provision for such but however explained that was often used in lower courts where branding was not done.
He explained that where small livestock was concerned such knowledge was often used for identification, however pointed out that often it’s a difficult task. “Our higher courts do not have such provision for indigenous knowledge system of using distinctive features in a cattle for identification, but it does not entirely means here and there is never adopted, though it is not often,” he said.
In the rise of stock theft and disputes regarding livestock, all cattle in Botswana are required by law to be branded for identification purposes as well as ownership. According to Livestock Act, owners can apply for an alphanumerical brand to identify their livestock. The brand certificate is valid for ten years and can be renewed 12 months before expiry date.