The Sunday News
Simba Jemwa, Sunday News Correspondent
CHIEFS in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South Province have called on the police and the courts to take a more decisive role in stemming the rising cases of cattle rustling within their communities.
Sunday News spoke to the traditional leaders who expressed concern at the rising number of cattle rustling cases. They also called on the courts not to be lenient to persons accused of cattle rustling.
Chief Khulumani Mathema told Sunday News that there was a need for dialogue between traditional leaders, community representatives, councillors, the police and the courts to find ways to ensure that cases of cattle rustling were adequately and timeously dealt with.
“We have scenarios where the police will investigate a case of cattle rustling, make an arrest, but when the culprits are brought before the courts they are released on bail or acquitted yet these people will be known rustlers.
We need a concerted effort from both the police and the courts if this problem will be stopped before we lose more of our livestock,” said Chief Mathema.
His sentiments were echoed by Chief Mzimuni (Mbiko Masuku). Chief Mzimuni said the rising cases of cattle rustling have been hard on his people who have been losing beasts on a regular basis to criminals.
He said people invest in cattle and when they are stolen with no recourse in sight, they often feel let down by the justice system.
“In Matabeleland South, most people invest in cattle because of the poor returns from agriculture (cropping) which are known to all.
However, when their cattle are stolen, they suffer losses that the courts seem unable to mitigate,” Chief Mzimuni told Sunday News.
Chief Ketso Mathe said the problem of stock theft cuts across the entire province and there was a need for stepped up police operations.
“Stock theft is rampant although there are places which have been identified as hotspots. There is a need for police to work with communities to rid the area of stock thieves,” she said.
Meanwhile, the councillor for Ward 22 in Colleen Bawn, Clr Marry Mpofu called on the Zimbabwe Republic Police to establish a base in her area to help fight cattle rustling among other crimes.
Clr Mpofu said the nearest police station was 70km away in Zendele Village under Chief Marupi, which has resulted in criminal cases going unreported.
She said rustling had reached such proportions that even donkeys were being stolen in the area.
“Before we even begin to talk about the damage caused by cattle rustlers, we need to first look into whether the victims have been protected enough in the first place.
There is not a single police presence in a 70km radius in my ward. Security is important. Rustlers are often armed and dangerous but we have no police presence to either help investigate or to deter criminals.”
