17 Jul 2019

Farmers have been advised to hire herd boys with traceable backgrounds to curb incidents of stock theft.

The farmers were also advised to develop terms and condition of employment for herd boys, pay them on time and visit their cattle posts or farms regularly.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Chanoga, KgomoKhumo 4 mission commander, Senior Superintendent Ineeleng Lesikawe shared that they had come across cases whereby herd boys paid themselves with livestock without the knowledge of the owner.

That, he said contributed to escalating incidents of stock theft.

He stated that in areas such as Ghanzi, they learnt that some herd boys hired others, something he found awkward.

Senior Superintendent Lesikawe  also advised parents to question their children when they bring goods or produce home because receiving goods suspected to be stolen is an offence.

He advised them not keep livestock without knowing where it came from because that encouraged stock theft.

Farmers were given stock theft prevention tips and encouraged to ensure compliance with the law such as cattle branding and following proper procedure when selling livestock.

They were advised to report matimela on time and to brand their animals while still young for easy identification and traceability.

Senior Superintendent Lesikawe said in the past farmers, identified their livestock by colour but stated that the act emphasised that cattle should be branded and marked.

“Branding is a legal instrument and there is a penalty for animals that are not branded. We have realised that some use unregistered brands and that is against the law,” he added.

The Branding of Cattle Act cap 36:02, he said stipulated that all cattle in Botswana should be branded for identification purposes as well as ownership.

The law states that a brand is personal property which can be transferred to other persons provided transfer of the brand title is completed and signed by the authority. Botswana has five types of branding.

Meanwhile, Kgomokhumo 4 operation which was launched in May covers Ghanzi and Ngamiland districts.

Since the launch, Senior Superintendent Lesikawe revealed that they had arrested 41 suspects, all male and found in possession of livestock suspected to be stolen.

The suspected livestock, he said ranged from cattle, horses, goats and sheep adding that currently 79 animals were under police custody.

Out of the 41 suspects, he said eight had been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment each while some cases were on-going before customary and magistrate courts.

Nine cases were reported to be ready for mention while eight were ready for trials.

Senior Superintendent Lesikawe also expressed concern that police were failing to prosecute some cases because family members withdrew them and opted to settle out of court.

He said it was disturbing that some reported cases only to withdraw them after the police had invested resources in the investigations.

Withdrawal of case, he said was worrisome because it encouraged perpetrators to continue committing crime and wasted government resources. Five cases he said had been withdrawn since the operation. ENDS