Stock theft has become rampant with the thieves reportedly going to the extent of shooting and killing cattle out in the thickets. On a daily basis, farmers lose their cattle at the hands of stock thieves who hang around the area to rustle cattle, something that they are not pleased with accusing the police of failing to curb the situation.
The rampant stock theft in the area is said to be difficult to contain thus keeping the police on their toes and remains one of the greatest threats to the long-term sustainability of livestock production and farming in the vicinity. The police have since established that most of the meat consumed in Gaborone and major neighbouring villages is from stolen livestock, making stock theft one of the most lucrative crimes in the country. Some feedlots allegedly have emerged as ready markets for such stolen stock.
Through the ongoing Kgomo Khumo anti-stock theft operation in the area, the police have also found out that stock thieves hang around the grazing areas as their target spot to round up and slaughter people’s cattle. It is believed that the thieves even have kraals in the bush where they take the stolen cattle for branding and earmarking before selling them either to BMC or butcheries. In an interview with Mmegi, Sejelo Police Station Commander, Superintendent Mogomotsi Matlapeng said they continue to arrest stock theft suspects and confiscate stolen beasts, indications that indeed stock theft has become a paying job for perpetrators.
“We have observed that the business of stealing and selling, especially cattle to butcheries and small-scale caterers is well organised. Even though the situation is not rampant as compared to last year, farmers are still having sleepless nights tormented by cattle rustlers who continue to kill their animals and dump their offals in the bush,” he said.
He stated that the well-organised stock thieves who are mostly repeat offenders are behind most animals found stolen. However, he said through the ongoing Kgomo Khumo operation, they have been making a breakthrough, which resulted in suspects being caught red handed while in possession of cattle or meat they failed to account for.
Matlapeng said the majority of residents in these areas depend on farming for survival, as they keep hundreds of herds, something that has since worked to the advantage of the thieves who made such farmers their biggest target. “Recently one of the farmers in Selokolela came and reported to us that his cattle came home with a bullet suspected to have been shot by criminals. We continue to receive reports from farmers crying of criminals but efforts are in place to help curb stock theft in the area.
The calves, commonly known as zero tooth, are in high demand in the market hence being the target for thieves but we will continue to strive to curb stock theft. We will not allow people’s livestock to be taken away from them for free,” he said. He revealed to have since intensified Kgomo Khumo patrols in an effort to locate and pounce on those stock thieves syndicates as farming plays a critical role in the development of the country’s economy. He added that it is alleged that some butcheries appear to be relying on stolen livestock for supplies, hence living by the mantra, stock theft is a criminal, but gainful undertaking. He urged farmers to brand their livestock to curb stock theft as thieves usually target unbranded beasts. He said support from the farmers was vital, reiterating the call for farmers to take care of their livestock. “Farmers too have a role to play to meet us halfway, look after their cattle and ensure they do not live like stray animals. Of course it has not escaped our attention that some of these thieves steal animals from the kraals something that has made farmers helpless,” he said.
For their part, farmers who are tormented by stock thieves who shoot and kill their animals said they are living in fear of criminals even in the comfort of their cattle posts as they are armed with guns. Lucky Ditaunyane, a farmer at Mothalojane cattle post in the outskirts of Selokolela, said he has been a victim of stock theft for many years that he cannot even remember when it started. “Thieves have been tormenting me for years. Two months ago I lost 11 cattle and nine cattle in August, which were stolen in a day.
Then we followed their footsteps and we discovered kraals in the bush in the outskirts of Kanye village where we also retrieved their carcass with our brand marks,” he said. Ditaunyane said losing livestock to thieves is heart breaking as one does not know where to start looking for their livestock and when the animals are not found, the pain is unbearable.
He stated that it is hurting that there is no trace of his cattle yet he survives on livestock for a living. “We have lost hope in farming; our cattle are shot and killed by thieves and their meat is sold in butcheries in Kanye, Moshupa and Gaborone,” he said. Reached for a comment whilst looking for his seven cattle that went missing this Wednesday, Modiegi Dibe also a farmer at Mothalojane cattle post, said together with his family they have since lost 13 cattle and have looked for them to no avail.
“I am looking for my seven cattle; five amongst them are pregnant and two females. The criminals pounce on our cattle on their way to drink water at a broken water pipeline that connects Mothatseng and Selokolola villages. we are trying to monitor their movements but it is not easy as they sometimes escape. Moreover, there is a monyelenyele tree that cattle like to eat in the outskirts of our cattle post that also has an influence in their movements,” he said.
