23 Jun 2022

 A patron of regiments (mephato) in Bobirwa region will, before end of the month, meet with AfriForum legal advisor, Mr Gerrie Nel in a bid to collaborate and benchmark on the best practices of combating cross-border livestock theft between Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Speaking at the joint meeting of Botswana and Zimbabwe security forces in Mabolwe Wednesday, the patron, Mr Mr Gabana Sebola said that the move was intended to trigger a tripartite cooperation that sought to end cross-border livestock rustling in the three Southern African countries.

The move, he said, was necessitated by the discovery that not only were livestock rustled across Shashe River into Zimbabwe, but smallstock from Botswana was further driven from Zimbabwe into South Africa where there was a booming market.

Mr Sebola said that the AfriForum, a South African non-governmental organisation focused mainly on the interests of Afrikaners, started patrolling the South African side of the border with Botswana since June 18.

He then met with the organisation’s spokesperson, Mr Jacques Broodreks the following day to discuss feasibility of working together. AfriForum reportedly patrols from Mesina town to Shalimpo, a confluence of Shashe and Limpopo rivers.

With a big stretch from Shalimpo to Martin’s Drift, the farmers want to convince AfriForum to also cover the area while also assisting local farmers with means of patrolling the same stretch on the Botswana side.

Mr Sebola said that after the planned talks with AfriForum he would submit a report to Kgosi Joel Masilo, Bobirwa region representative at Ntlo Ya Dikgosi.

Mr Sebola said that Kgosi Masilo would then forward the report to the minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse to appreciate farmers’ efforts.

As the patron of mephato, Mr Sebola said that he was charged with requesting assistance for mephato to better their efforts of helping law enforcement agencies in combating cross-border livestock rustling.

He said that he had managed to source torches, uniform, allowances amongst other things from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, to augment regiments’ efforts of combating the livestock scourge.

To successfully put stoppage to the rampant cross-border livestock rustling between Botswana and Zimbabwe, Mr Sebola suggested that both countries should employ the use of helicopters to patrol borders.

“Further, Botswana Police should be allowed to follow leads of stolen cattle into Zimbabwe’s known hotspots,” said Mr Sebola.

Another suggestion Mr Sebola made was that the South African police commissioner be invited in the next meeting, to try and close all the gaps that thieves sneak through in their acts of crime that had impoverished many farmers.

At the same meeting, Kgosi Masilo said that he hoped the meeting of the two countries high ranking security officials would bear long lasting solutions to the nagging problem of cross-border crime.

He also called for arresting of the problem in order to allow farmers to recuperate from decades of loss of livestock into Zimbabwe.

“It is a few elements that pollute the whole nation…if we arrest these perpetrators and bring them to book we will live peacefully ever after,” said Kgosi Masilo.

Kgosi Masilo also commended MLGRD through Bobirwa Sub-district Council for acceding to the farmers’ request to pay members of regiments a monthly allowances through Ipelegeng programme, to motivate them in helping combat cross-border crime.

He said the sub-council was also in the process of procuring uniform for the members of regiments for easy identification. ENDs