15 May 2018

The Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia says as much as government understands the plight of farmers who lose their livestock to cattle rustlers, forcing suspected livestock thieves to have their cases tried only at the dikgotla was not a solution.

Numerous farmers had suggested during kgotla meetings addressed by Mr Ralotsia in Lekgolobotlo and Ntlhantlhe villages on Monday that suspected livestock thieves should be starved of their constitutional right to have their cases tried at the courts of their choice.

However, the Kanye North lawmaker said adopting such a stance will be a deviation from international best practice and an infringement of both fundamental human and constitutional rights of the suspects.

“As much as we do not condone stocktheft, it will not be proper for us to instruct that suspects be tried only at the dikgotla. People are at liberty to have their cases tried wherever they feel they will be served justice,” he said.

He assured farmers that government will continue to come up with tough laws with a view to fight rampant cases of stocktheft.

He underscored that the establishment of specialised entities within the police force, such as the stocktheft unit, to wage war against the negative development, demonstrated commitment by the administration.

“Part of the reason stocktheft has escalated over the years is the fact that many of you do not take proper care of your animals and this has provided an opening for thieves to reign terror on your livestock,” Minister Ralotsia said.

On others issues, he told residents that government has taken a decision to privatise the Botswana Meat Commission.

The new dispensation, according to the Kanye North legislator, has been made such that farmers become part of the decision making body in the operations of the commission. ENDS