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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

POLICE in Matabeleland South last month recovered a herd of 58 stolen cattle, 14 goats and eight donkeys in an ongoing anti-stock theft operation in the province.

The operation has also resulted in the arrest of six suspects.

The first phase of the operation, aimed at curbing stock theft cases started in May 2021. Some of the hotspot areas in the province include Tshanyaugwe, West Nicholson, Doddieburn, and John Deep in Gwanda district.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Stanford Mguni said during the operation they also recovered a Honda Fit in Gwanda which was used in carrying carcasses of stolen beasts.

“Within a period of two weeks, we have managed to recover 58 stolen cattle in Matabeleland South, which were recovered during the ongoing operation. We recovered 25 cattle in Zindele area in Gwanda after three suspects were spotted by community members as they were driving the stolen cattle, and they immediately alerted our officers,” he said.

 Asst Insp Mguni, said the suspects fled from the scene and police have since launched a manhunt.

“In the case of 14 goats that were recovered three suspects fled. We also seized a Honda Fit which was used in transporting carcasses of stolen cattle and arrested two suspects,” he said.

“In the case of eight donkeys that were recovered, two suspects fled. We managed to arrest four suspects in Bulilima after they had stolen 18 cattle from Lydead Farm and they have since appeared in court and were remanded in custody.” 

Asst Insp Mguni urged farmers to brand their stock and rebrand whenever the marks start fading. 

“We also urge farmers to ensure that their animals are supervised at all times and to pen them at night. Farmers should also keep clear and updated stock records. They should also create anti-stock theft committees,” he said.

One of the victims, Mr Majahawalingani Dube from Mberengwa district in the Midlands province was able to recover his 18 Brahman cattle valued at US$10 000 after they were stolen in a grazing area in West Nicholson.

Mr Dube managed to positively identify his cattle, which were among a herd of 25 cattle that were recovered on Saturday in Zindele area.

“I had taken my cattle for dipping on Thursday after which I took 10 calves home and left 18 with one of my workers so that he could take them to a grazing area which borders with West Nicholson, and that is where they were stolen,” he said.

 “I was relieved when I got a call from the police on Saturday informing me that my cattle had been recovered. I was so devastated after losing my cattle because they are my source of livelihood,” he said.

Another farmer, Mr Mangaliso Ndlovu from Mashura area in West Nicholson said he lost eight cattle, and six of them were recovered. 

He said it was easier for the police to identify the owners of the cattle as they were branded and they had ear tags containing the phone numbers of their owners. 

Mr Ndlovu said his cattle were stolen in broad daylight while grazing. 

Cases of stock theft are rampant across Zimbabwe with rustlers hitting hardest farmers in border areas where they work with cross-border syndicates to steal livestock. On average, between 5 000 and 10 000 cases of livestock theft are reported each year in the country according to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Anti-Stock Theft Unit. 

The unit has over the years intensified its campaigns, deployments, and community-based initiatives to fight animal theft, which is causing huge losses to farmers, and high levels of anxiety in communities that have built their flock over the years.@DubeMatutu