21 Feb 2019

 Botswana Police Commissioner Mr Keabetswe Makgophe says anti-stock theft operation, KgomoKhumo will achieve its mandate through community support. 

Mr Makgophe said stock-theft was one of the worst challenges on the livelihoods of Batswana and that it would only be put to rest through community involvement.

He said his office had availed all the necessary resources, but they would never be put into good use without community input. 

Commissioner Makgophe was speaking at the launch of KgomoKhumo III at Shakwe on February 20. 

He said the exercise was proving to be successful as demonstrated by the number of arrests made and confiscation of stolen livestock and livestock proceeds since its inception.

He said they were determined to continue with the operation in order to eradicating livestock rustlers.  

“We want to ensure that the livestock resource is completely safe from criminals,” he said.

Mr Makgophe described stock theft as the greatest enemy to the livelihoods of the people, calling for concerted efforts to deal with it. 

“It is unfortunate that some people will be paupers as the criminals are determined to wipe out their source of income,”  he said, adding that they are determined to deal with livestock criminals and there would be no mercy.

He said even though one would say that the contribution of the livestock to the national economy was insignificant, a sizable propotion of the population was dependent on proceeds from livestock. 

The police chief said livestock added value to the lives of Batswana, adding that even those who did not own livestock had one way of the other benefited from its proceeds.   

He said the government was investing heavily in the development of the livestock industry as it had the potential of not only sustaining households, but also growing and diversifying the economy.  

He said it was unfortunate that people from neighbouring countries were being accused as primary suspects in stock theft, which he dismissed as false because statistics had revealed locals as the leading perpetrators in stock theft. 

He appealed to communities to report any situations where someone was accumulating livestock or wealth through suspicious means. 

Mr Makgophe also appealed to meat dealers to be part of the operation by taking note and reporting any suspicious business, adding that those who would be caught purchasing stolen livestock would face the full wrath of the law.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Duncan Segotsi appreciated Botswana Police Service for extending the operation to his area of jurisdiction, saying in the past, Mahalapye was turned into a supplier of affordable meat and people from all corners of the country would drive to the village for relish. 

He said Mahalapye Sub-district was seriously affected by stock theft and therefore believed the operation would address their concerns. 

“We have been wondering where the cheap meat dealers in Mahalapye were getting their supply from, only to realise when KgomoKhumo started making strides into our area that the meat was proceeds of criminal acts,” he said.

Kgosi Segotsi said some members of the community, who have benefited from government programmes aimed at increasing the livestock population such as LIMID and Nyeletso Lehuma, were equally affected as they had lost their animals to thieves. 

He urged the community to pledge their support to the police. 

A representative of the farmers committee, Mr Edward Lebogang said the operation came at an opportune time as the community was faced with a serious challenge of stock theft. 

Mr Lebogang said farmers were living in fear as the criminals were always armed and forceful when approached. 

He said the ‘none of my business’ mentality portrayed by some individuals must be a thing of the past, as the consequences of the diminishing livestock industry would be felt by even those without livestock. ENDS