20 Feb 2022

Combating cross border crime including stock theft has always been government’s priority, says Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane.

Mr Tsogwane said government’s determination was demonstrated by the various strategies implored in combating the crime, which continued to be reviewed as and when necessary to improve efforts to mitigate cattle rustling. Responding to a parliamentary on Thursday, Mr Tsogwane said that  the current strategies in place formed part of a bigger strategy used by government to combat cattle rustling.

He said that livestock theft was a concern in Botswana hence various mitigation strategies continued to be implemented to curb the problem.

Mr Tsogwane said livestock was fundamental to the livelihoods of Batswana. “It is seen as a source of income, wealth and status,” he said.

He said the Setswana adage says, “Ka e rua ka tlhoka boroko, ka e tlhoka le gone ka nna ka bo tlhoka,” therefore fully capturing the importance of livestock to the average Motswana.

He further confirmed that cross border livestock theft in Botswana, particularly in Kgalagadi, Goodhope-Mabule, Tutume Sub District and Ramotswa was a challenge. Further, he said that stock theft cases were recorded in Ghanzi and North East area in 2021.

He said in 2020, a total of 143 livestock which included 12 cattle, 1 horse, 111 goats, 18 sheep, 1 mule were stolen in Kgalagadi. In Goodhope-Mabule 27 sheep were stolen and farmers in Tutume lost 20 donkeys, while in Ramotswa 18 goats were also reported stolen.

In 2021, Mr Tsogwane said in Kgalagadi 14 cattle, 207 goats and 42 sheep were stolen, while in Ghanzi 13 cattle and one horse were also stolen. As for North East 19 goats were stolen and in  Goodhope-Mabule four cattle were also stolen.  Tutume 17 cattle and four donkeys and Ramotswa three goats reported as stolen.

Mr Tsogwane said there were several security and diplomatic interventions that had been mobilised to address the challenges of cross border livestock theft.

“The measures included formation of anti-stock smuggling teams patrols around areas, engagement of the community through farmers anti stock theft committees to assist in the fight against stock theft,” said Mr Tsogwane.

Additionally, Mr Tsogwane, said collaboration with other stakeholders to fight cross border crime and the deployment of Botswana Police Service personnel along the affected borders had been put in place.

Mr Tsogwane said the resolution reached at several forums such as the joint permanent commission, quarterly bilateral meetings by national commission on the formation of a fully-fledged anti stock theft branch within law enforcement was also being implemented.

He said government was of the view that the interventions in place yielded positive results as they enhanced information sharing and intelligence led operations, which resulted in interception, recovery of some stolen stock and reduction of stock theft cases.

Furthermore, Mr Tsogwane said, he was aware of the digital solutions offered by information technology companies that could be used to monitor herds of livestock.

He therefore noted that farmers were advised to utilise such technologies to protect their livestock.

Moreover, Mr Tsogwane said farmers whose cattle had been stolen and found in neighbouring countries were assisted with transport and other logistics at government costs to identify their livestock.

In areas where there were threats of spreading livestock disease by importing identified stolen cattle, Mr Tsogwane said farmers were compensated following destruction of their livestock.

The vice president pointed that in countries where importation of livestock was prohibited, farmers were accompanied by police officers for auction sales and entitled to proceeds of the sale.

MP for Bobonong, Mr Taolo Lucas had asked the Leader of the House to apprise Parliament on the challenges of cross border livestock theft in Kgalagadi, Ghanzi, Kgatleng, North East, Goodhope-Mabule, Tutume Sub-District and Ramotswa.

Mr Lucas had also requested to know the number of livestock reported to be stolen and taken away to a neighbouring country in each of the areas as well as the security and diplomatic interventions that had so far been mobilised to deal with the problem of cross border livestock theft. He further asked if such interventions had yielded any positive results

He also wanted to know whether government was aware of the digital solutions offered by Information Technology (IT) companies that could be used to arrest the problem of cross border livestock theft and what had been done so far to engage such companies.

In addition, MP Lucas asked the Leader of the House on the nature and type of assistance rendered to farmers whose cattle had been stolen and found in neighbouring countries and if government would consider implementing a national strategy and protocol for addressing cross border livestock theft. ENDS