19 Feb 2019

Inspector Jerry Sabata of Gumare police has expressed concern over withdrawal of livestock theft cases.

He said the practice derailed police efforts to curb the escalating stocktheft in the area.

Inspector Sabata pleaded with farmers during a workshop organised by the department of agriculture in Maun.

It was intended to encourage farmers to ensure compliance with acts in place as well as clean livestock trading.

He said despite police efforts, it was disturbing that some people continued to report cases and eventually withdraw them after the police had invested resources to investigate the cases.

He said there were allegations that the concerned parties withdrew cases after making payment arrangements for the stolen animals.

During their operation, he said about five cases were withdrawn.

Inspector Sabata said one of the challenges was that they lost cases because of inadequate evidence since owners failed to identify animals and he thus pleaded with farmers to ear tag their animals for easy traceability and identification. 

Meanwhile, Inspector Sabata said the operation was a response to complaints by some members of the community that the police were not coming forth when they reported suspicious incidents of stocktheft.

“Members of the community were complaining about our response time, hence the campaign,” he added.

He said the campaign was producing positive results. 

Recently, he said, they arrested some culprits who slaughtered a cow in the house, while some slaughtered stolen cattle in the bush to supply butcheries and individuals. 

Some, he said, sold animals to without proper prove of ownership, while some failed to observe movement protocols and register animals illegally.

Inspector Sabata revealed that most of the time they acted on tip offs from members of the community, adding that most of the cases were detected in Boro, Samedupi, Polokabatho and Chanoga

The operation started in Maun and surrounding villages. 

Inspector Sabata thanked the community for their cooperation, adding that they intended to roll it out to the entire district.  Ends