04 Dec 2019

North Central Divisional Commander senior assistant police commissioner Christopher Mbulawa has reassured farmers in Bobirwa that Botswana Police is, among other things re-strategising, beefing up and intensifying patrols to curb livestock rustling across the border into Zimbabwe.

Mr Mbulawa revealed that the police would also increase number base camps as sought by the communities. The revelations followed a meeting with farmers and community leaders in Semolale recently.

“I think we are going somewhere. I believe the situation will improve,” said Mr Mbulawa who assured the farmers that ‘we will be on top of the situation.’

The communities of Mabolwe, Gobojango, Semolale and Motlhabaneng have called for stringent government interventions on the seemingly unabating stock theft in their areas.

As part of response to the calls, the North Central Divisional commander said that to address the endless complaints of livestock theft, Botswana Police would be changing strategies in order to nab the suspects whilst simultaneously curbing the rampant theft.

“The farmers should ensure improvement on ways of tending to their livestock and that those they have entrusted with herding their livestock are worthy of their trust,” said Mr Mbulawa who highlighted that he was ‘just making a blanket statement’ without necessarily suggesting that farmers hired people they did not know very well.

He said that everyone affected should individually introspect with a view of improving. He however assured the farmers that the livestock theft matter was not yet out of control and that they would ‘definitely succeed.’

In a previous interview with Semolale Police Station commander superintendent Boipuso Baatweng revealed that 43 stock theft cases were reported from January to September this year.

Statistics from Semolale police office showed that 416 cattle were smuggled to Zimbabwe from January to September. In the same period 43 goats, 22 sheep and 16 donkeys were smuggled to Zimbabwe. Of the 416 stolen cattle, only 57 were recovered whilst none of the donkeys, sheep and goats were recovered.

Last week, a 65-year-old former police officer, Mr Joseph Butale and son Confidence ran for their lives when seven stock thieves, allegedly from Zimbabwe, attacked them, throwing stones at the duo, forcing them to take cover.

Mr Butale narrated an ordeal of how, together with his son they were tending to their 18 cattle when they were attacked by assailants, divided into two groups, one to attack them whilst the other whisked the cattle away to cross the border into Zimbabwe.

Sensing that they were outnumbered and outsmarted by cross border cattle rustlers, Mr Butale advised his son to let go of the cattle and run. His suspicions are that the thieves scanned the place from the hills and realised that it was just the two of them tending to the cattle.

It was upon that discovery that they pounced aggressively and  after scaring the duo, the thieves cut the cordon fence and advanced into Zimbabwe.

Trying to stop the thieves in their tracks, Mr Butale narrated that he called his wife, who immediately called Semolale police to alert them of the incident. The police together with the special support group headed for the border line and to nab the criminals.

However, it was after the police left the scene that the thieves went for the fence and fled the scene. His cattle have not been recovered.

Mr Butale’s plight reverberated around the whole of Mabolwe, Semolale, Gobojango and Motlhabaneng villages along the Botswana and Zimbabwe border.

Farmers are devastated that while they were recovering from Foot and Mouth Disease, with the Zone Seven declared a green zone or FMD free zone, now they are battling with stock theft when they should be enjoying the fruits of their patience.

Following the widespread and rampant livestock rustling, the community members of the concerned villages called for a meeting with security officials to air their grievances.

The villagers also contemplated patrolling the border themselves.

A chat with a charged Kgosi Keleapere Baruti and Kgosi Isaiah Madema of Semolale revealed how distraught the farmers in the area were at the hands of thieves.

More than anything, the chiefs alleged that the thieves were putting the region at risk of reemergence of the FMD scourge because they allegedly crossed their cattle to graze into Botswana, after which they would then head them back to Zimbabwe in the company of Batswana cattle.

“These thieves have no regard not even respect for our country,” said a somewhat livid Kgosi Madema who believed the cross border thieves had gotten arrogant of late.

“Jaanong barui ba setse ba tshabetse kwa bo Metsimaswaana kwa go senang phulo teng,” said Kgosi Baruti revealing how farmers had left greener pastures to save the little left livestock.

While noting the sobering effects of livestock theft to their people, the two dikgosi were optimistic that the planned interventions as detailed by top Botswana police officers were set to bear fruits especially with support from the communities.

Mr Mbulawa shared the sentiment, saying that with community involvement fighting the scourge might be easier for the police.

Kgosi Baruti said that the police officers promised to increase officers patrolling the border line and also provided two vehicles for members of the community who volunteered to beef up the patrol team.

That being said, the community leaders wanted the picketers to be increased so they tend to the cordon fence although elephants had not been helping the situation by constantly bringing the fence down for a passage into the country. ENDS