Back in 2018 the rise in cattle rustling prompted the police to launch anti-cattle theft campaigns to curb the scourge.
I believe that the rearing of livestock has and will always be an integral part of the life of Batswana and a major contributor to the economy as every household keeps cattle, goats or sheep in a subsistence form or commercially. Stock theft is becoming a bane to pastoralists who either rear cattle or small stock.
Troubled by the rampant cattle rustling in the Central District’s areas like Mahalapye, Palapye and villages in Tswapong which were the most prevalent police this year began the operation invading the trouble-torn area. Stock theft has over the year tormented farmers in this area and left farmers empty-handed.
This prompted me to follow the story and be the spokesperson of the people ensuring that the operation provides a panacea to the troubles faced by the villagers. Early this year police resolved to deploy more resources to curb the scourge and further enhanced the participation of community structures in the fight against stock theft. For years, stock theft tormented farmers countrywide with majority of people blaming the police for not doing enough to fight the crime. The cattle herd in Palapye has reduced owing to a number of reasons including stock theft.
Reports shows that in 2015 there were 140, 834 cattle but by 2019 the number had gone down to 98,494 cattle, a reduction of 42, 340 cattle. As for the Mahalapye district, police recently indicated that back in 2015 there were 130,390 cattle which reduced to 72, 176 2019 a loss of 58, 214 cattle.
The decrease in these numbers has since been attributed to drought, mismanagement of livestock and stock theft hence the introduction of the Kgomo Khumo anti-stock theft operation. However, as a reporter who follows this issue closely I think the police have since thus far managed to contain the scourge as evidenced by the string of arrests and convictions made public by the police through their Facebook page as a way of sending a clear message to stock theft syndicates. However, the message seems to be falling on deaf ears as police continue to make arrests with most of the criminals caught red-handed with carcasses.
The arrests and convictions are a clear sign that indeed the police are dealing with syndicates who take stock theft as their career. It has been established that a syndicate of herdsmen, stock theft criminals hang around grazing areas to rustle cattle, slaughter and sell the carcass to butchery and street vendors at a cheaper price. This crime has left some farmers empty handed but police’ efforts will forever be cherished as their presence is felt.
The police left no stone unturned as they pounced on some butchery that were largely depending of stolen meat. I am of the view that the police are indeed doing a great a job as they also managed to control the meat price in these areas. Over the years, low beef prices had even attracted customers from as far as Gaborone.
I have since observed that special cuts that used to sell at P43/kg have been increased to P55/ kg because before the operation they wanted the meat to go quickly. Butchery owners, and informal sector cooks were established as the main drivers of this crime as they bought many ‘stolen’ meat pushing high the demand for meat. In some instances butchery owners were caught red-handed with carcasses and some failed to account for, a clear indication that they have been depending on stolen meat for their supply. The current shortage of meat in the cheapest market of meat was even felt in Gaborone as red meat prices skyrocketed following the arrival of Kgomo-Khumo operatives in the area. As they continue to fight cattle theft, the BPS early this year established that the criminals were targeting pregnant cows as they appeared to be meaty.
Last month, as the police continued to nab stock theft syndicates, a new trick was established as thieves injured or cut tendons of cows to immobilise them and later slaughter and sell the meat at a giveaway price. This came as a shock to me as a reporter because it showed that despite police’s efforts to eliminate this crime, stock thieves introduced new tricks to easily immobilise and slaughter people’s cattle. I share the same sentiments with the police that indeed time has come for farmers to re-introduce herding their cattle (go disa) as it used to be the case decades ago as their animals are no longer safe in grazing areas. Sadly, young school dropouts who spend most of their time idling in cattle posts are said to be behind these theft cases. It appears that stock theft has become a well paying job for them as they are repeat offenders.
As these arrests unfold I think this problem will not end soon because there are so many informal cooks (Bo- Mmaseapei) who a buy a lot of meat on a daily basis. However, police should intensify public education in making sure that herdsmen, butchery owners, informal cooks and members of the public are sensitised about stock theft and its impact on the country’s economy. As a remedy to this problem I think the government should do more in delivering their promise of creating jobs to unemployed Batswana especially the youth who are mostly the suspects of stock theft.
Few months ago police arrested and sentenced the notorious 19-year-old boy of Lerala to five years imprisonment for stealing a goat and a donkey. The teenager was believed to have been terrorising the village. One would wonder how a 19-year-old boy could find comfort in crime to a point of being the most feared man in the village.
His arrest brought happiness amongst villagers and police believed his imprisonment would send a clear message and that a prison will possibility rehabilitate him. However, I would advise farmers to join hands with the police and help them fight this scourge by branding and ear marking their cattle as some farmers lack this responsibility something that worsen the problem.
Some farmers have abandoned their animals, they barely visit their cattle posts and their herdsmen can go for months without getting paid and as such they do not put more effort into their duties. I strongly believe that farming could be a key contributor to the country’s economy if we could be able to contain stock theft as farmers would be able to produce more cattle and take advantage of the beef export market. Kgomo-Khumo operation is a good initiative and it came at the right time when farmers were losing hope in farming.
