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Richard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
GWANDA police have banned the movement of trucks carrying cattle during the night in an effort to fight stocktheft which has become prevalent in the district.

Gwanda has become a cattle rustling hot spot and recently villagers in Matshetshe took the law into their own hands and burnt down three homesteads belonging to suspected cattle thieves.

The officer commanding Gwanda District, Chief Superintendent Enock Sibanda on Friday told Sibona villagers, at a meeting where the police and Gwanda South MP Madodana Sibanda had gone to cool tempers, the ban would help in the fight against rustling.

The meeting was held at Enqameni.

“We’ve seen that cases of cattle rustling are increasing at an alarming level in the district. As police it’s our duty to protect farmers’ livestock and from now onwards no truck will be allowed to move cattle during the night from Gwanda district to any destination,” said Chief Supt Sibanda.

“Police will be on the lookout for any such activities during the night and mount roadblocks. Any truck which will be intercepted carrying cattle will first be taken to the police station for vetting before it’s allowed to proceed the next morning if everything is found to be in order,” he added.

He said last week they intercepted a truck which was carrying 30 beasts which had been allegedly stolen from Manama en-route to Sun yet Sen in Kezi.

“The beasts are in our custody at Manama. The suspects are helping the police with investigations. We’ve also recovered 12 beasts in the hot spot area of Tshanyaungwe which is a cattle rustling hub, during an operation two weeks ago and the suspect is on the run.” he said.

The police ban comes in the wake of mounting villagers’ agitation over the increase in cattle rustling in Gwanda.

Two weeks ago about 200 Matshetshe villagers burnt down three homesteads belonging to suspected cattle rustlers.

One of them, Lovemore Moyo who is said to be the ring leader, is on the police wanted list.

He is on the run and police have launched a manhunt for him.