The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
POLICE are in the process of crafting a legal instrument that will ban activities of tsikamutandas as well as stipulate stiffer penalties for any that will be caught operating in the country.
Addressing villagers from Mayobodo and Khalanyoni areas in Mangwe District last week, national anti-stock theft co-ordinator Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza said their legal department was handling the matter and a legal instrument will be announced soon.
He said once the legal framework was put into place, police will launch a blitz against tsikamutandas.
“The problem which is there now is that there isn’t any legal framework to govern the activities of tsikamutandas. At the same time some traditional leaders are in the habit of inviting them to their communities regardless of the fact that they are a menace in society. As a result we have engaged our legal department to come up with a legal instrument or document that can regulate operations of tsikamutandas. Once this instrument is out, we can ensure that their activities come to an end,” he said.
Snr Asst Comm Makodza said tsikamutandas were one of the major culprits of stock theft as they were duping people of their livestock. He said they had also destroyed families and caused tension within communities.
Snr Asst Comm Makodza urged villagers to desist from entertaining or seeking the services of tsikamutandas.
He appealed to traditional leaders to safeguard their people. He said it was alarming that some community leaders who sympathised with tsikamutandas were acting as accomplices in duping people of their money and livestock.
He also warned tsikamutandas from persisting with their activities citing that the police will not rest until they were all behind bars.
“After assessing the activities of tsikamutandas, we realised that they don’t bring any good to communities. They are just there to extort money from people. They either steal livestock or they cause animosity between people and go after married women.
“We will play our part as the police but at the same time we expect villagers to do their part and desist from entertaining these crooks,” said Snr Asst Comm Makodza.
The headman of Khalanyoni area, Mr Josiah Ndlovu, who also spoke during the meeting raised concern over the activities of tsikamutandas whom he said had caused havoc in his area. Snr Asst Comm Makodza said they had submitted a letter to the AG’s office and were still awaiting a response. He said the country recorded a 13 percent increase in cattle theft cases from 9 673 in 2015 to 10 942 in 2016.
