29 Mar 2022

The last anti-livestock theft operation, commonly known as KgomoKhumo was last carried out at Ghanzi from May to December 2019.  Answering a question in Parliament recently, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi said the operation was conducted in the areas of Sekoma, Lephephe, Shakwe and Ghanzi, and was to be extended to a few more areas, which were badly hit by stock theft, but the plan was suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic.

He stated that KgomoKhumo operation had realised positive results in all the areas covered and Botswana Police Service (BPS) was looking into carrying out the operation in other areas, in the 2022/2023 financial year.

“It has to be noted that as it is in the nature of police operations, KgomoKhumo cannot carry on indefinitely and it will only be carried out as and when there is need. I would like to assure you that the BPS is taking the fight against stock theft as one of its priorities, hence it has formed the Anti-Stock Theft Branch, which is deployed across the country to fight this crime,” he said.

He added that the formation of the branch was to mainstream the fight against stock theft and ensure the fight was carried out continuously throughout the police stations, hence encouraging all affected farmers to report any theft of livestock to the police.

“Lastly, I would like to request farmers to continue engaging in community policing, by collaborating with the police through farmers’ committees, to assist the police in their efforts to eradicate stock theft,” the minister said. Serowe South MP, Mr Leepetswe Lesedi had requested the minister to update legislators on when and why the KgomoKhumo initiative was suspended and when it would resume. ends