Zimpapers Logo

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent

POLICE in Matabeleland South Province have raised concern over the illegal sale of beef which has resulted in rampant cases of stocktheft.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said the cases were rampant mostly in Plumtree, Bulilima, Figtree and Mangwe. He said the beasts which were being slaughtered in the bush were suspected to be supplying illegal beef selling points. “As police we are concerned about cases of stocktheft which have become rampant whereby the culprits steal the beasts, slaughter them in the bush and leave the carcasses there.

These cases are being recorded mostly in Plumtree, Bulilima, Figtree and Mangwe areas,” Chief Insp Ndebele said.“We suspect that these culprits take this meat and supply people or places that sell beef unofficially. These points become a ready market for stock theft suspects. We appeal to members of the public that might see people selling beef to alert us. People should also desist from buying meat from these people as some of the animals would have been stolen.

They should rather get their meat supplies from the butcheries.” Chief Insp Ndebele said in a recent case, two carcasses were recovered in a bushy area near Omadu Lodge. He said the carcasses were found by a passerby on Monday at around 9AM. Chief Insp Ndebele also urged farmers to ensure that they penned their cattle to stop them from straying.“We still have a challenge of farmers who release their cattle to graze and they leave them unattended throughout the day or for several days. This puts them at risk of losing their cattle to stock thieves. Some farmers leave their cattle in the bush overnight and they don’t pen them. Farmers have to be responsible and know the whereabouts of their animals all the time and ensure that they are properly guarded,” he said. – @DubeMatutu