05 Jul 2022

 A new dawn beckons for Bobirwa communities who for many years have sought solutions to persistent cattle rustling, thanks to President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s interventions last year September. 

Last year September the President came to Semolale to hear resident’s concerns and soon thereafter appointed a commission of enquiry to investigate the issue. At the same time, he instructed Botswana’s security forces to beef up security along the border line with members of Botswana Police Service and Botswana Defence Force as well as mephato permanently patrolling the now. 

The President has now moved the interventions a notch up Yesterday, he returned to Semolale and announced, among other interventions, plans to purchase drones and Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicles for easy collection of information as well as ease access in rocky terrain. Government, he said, would not rest until the issue had been fully addressed, and it was working amicably with Zimbabwe toward achieving that. 

The president said he discussed the problem with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa and together they committed to ending cattle rustling which had been ongoing between the two countries for many years. He said the issue also formed part of the agenda during Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission which was held in Victoria Falls, early this year. Dr Masisi informed residents of Semolale that it was important to understand the root cause of cattle rustling, attributing it largely to socio-economic challenges faced by Zimbabweans due to sanctions imposed on that country. 

As part of efforts to find a long term solution to the problem, the two countries agreed on supporting unconditional removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West. 

That, he said, would help to resuscitate the economy of that country and improve the livelihoods of the people of Zimbabwe. Furthermore, he said that Dr Mnangagwa had given the issue of rustling serious attention and had swiftly responded by beefing up security on the Zimbabwean side as well as forming mephato to work closely with the local security forces.

 He said government would procure boots and uniform for mephato engaged in protecting Babirwa’s livestock. 

He also promised them that government would give some farmers in the area quality bred cattle to restore the dignity of farmers who lost their livestock to cattle rustlers. President Masisi cautioned Batswana working in cahoots with Zimbabweans to desist from that.

In his welcome remarks Kgosi Ezekiel Joel thanked President Masisi for delivering on his promise within a short period of time. He said since last year September to date, Babirwa had observed very little cattle rustling and commended the President for a job well done. He said the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Botswana, and the commissioner of the Zimbabwean Police as well as head of the Zimbabwean military visited Bobirwa area to acknowledge the problem. 

They also committed to do th Kgosi Joel explained that the security forces for both countries had started working closely, adding that the two parties had both established satellite camps to enhance border patrols between the two countries. However he said there was still a problem of stock theft occurring locally, emphasising on local patrols as well. 

Mr Gabana Mooketsi who is the Patron of the mophato also thanked the government for the good progress so far.He said at the time President Masisi addressed a kgotla meeting in Semolale last year, the situation was worse and many Babirwa communities had already given up on the issue. 

Mr Mooketsi thanked the government for the support and attention given to this issue, adding more camps would be established to up security along the border. There was also ongoing bush clearing to create patrol routes for better view. 

“This issue has been haunting us since 1982 and would like to thank President Masisi for addressing it within nine months,” he said. The area MP Mr Taolo Lucas also thanked the government for all interventions made. ENDS