Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
A group of farmers from Matabeleland South and North Provinces has rewarded a member of the Donnington neibourhood watch committee with cash amounting to more than US$1000 and R5000 for exhibiting bravery and dedication when he apprehended a cattle rustler leading to the recovery of five carcasses and a motor vehicle.
Mr Shephard Ncube of Bellevue was also rewarded with a Certificate of Bravery by the Police officer commanding Bulawayo metropolitan province Commissioner Dr Wiklef Makamache at an event held in Bulawayo on Tuesday afternoon.
The farmers said they are in pain with cattle rustling that is rampant within their areas and saw it fit to honour and reward Mr Ncube who set a good example for the nation.
“We are losing a lot of cattle to these cattle rustlers and as farmers we followed closely the case involving Mr Ncube. We want to appreciate his efforts by a small token of appreciation. We brought with us here cash worth US$765, 5360 rands, ecocash worth US$207 and ZiG 270. We also have beef worth US$50
“Our plea to Government is for it to consider implementing even more stiffer penalties to these cattle rustlers. It pains us that most of these are at times given bail and benefit from amnesty. We know that there are certain cases of like violent crimes that do not benefit from amnesty like robbery, our plea is that stock theft be added to those,” saifd Mr Meli Ncube who was representing the various farming associations.
Bulawayo Police senior officers pose for a picture with farmers and Mr Shepherd Ncube
Speaking at the occasion, Commissioner Makamache said Mr Ncube through dedication and exceptional alertness, became the center of vivid attraction in recovering five carcasses.
“As you may all be aware, the neighborhood watch committee to which he falls under is an arm and an offspring arising from one of the contemporary policing initiatives for the redropped formation of a strong joint venture in fighting crime.
“The ultimate dream and realisation output has always been that of safety and peace in our environments. The crime of stock theft outside its imparted effect in piercing through our hearts of agricultural livelihood is a major obstacle to the existence and growth of our national head,” he said.
He said others could have deliberately avoided the risk, others could have gone for a bribe, others could have just joined the perpetrators in question as accomplices, but for Mr Ncube, regardless of the pronounced risk and offensive fiscal action, he remained resolute to fight criminality without hesitation, without fear, and without favor to the better end.
@nyeve14
