07 Jul 2022

An end to decades of tormentous cross-border livestock rustling in Bobirwa region is coming to a screeching end, thanks to the concerted efforts of security forces in conjunction with regiments (mephato) led by dikgosi.

By observation and confirmation, mephato and security forces are beginning to realise fruits of their hard labour, which hitherto were unimaginable.

Although not fully ripe, the fruits of toiling along Botswana/Zimbabwe border are reportedly sumptuous to taste.

Some members of mephato, dikgosi and some security forces have signaled to be on the last hurdle to the finish line.

An announcement spelling a defeat to an over four decade long laborious pandemic would sound musical to farmers, some of whom are impoverished, owing to cross-border livestock rustling into Zimbabwe especially.

A problem that germinated as a slow upshoot eventually developed into a fully-fledged monster to the farmers who watched in utter disbelief and resignation as they lose possession of their livestock at the blink of an eye.

Every day and night, weekdays and weekends, normal days and holidays they are at work scaring if not policing alleged Zimbabwean livestock thieves from entering the country at ungazetted points and plundering on the local’s source of livelihood - livestock.

At some point farmers watched helplessly as the determined smugglers ran riot and stole with sheer impunity and arrogance, driving livestock across Shashe River home to safety.

At times the thieves invaded the villages at night, emptied kraals and drove the livestock into Zimbabwe while killing any animal that slows their darting moves.

Apart from sheer cruelty to animals, the thieves would also attack ferociously with pangas and matchets, farmers who tried to mount resistance.

At some point the smugglers reportedly threatened to come after the wives of the chiefs in Bobirwa when all livestock had been depleted.

This is the plight of a farmer in Bobirwa who, while endeavouring to uplift selves are frustrated by cross-border theft.

This is the propeller to mephato’s volunteerism.

To date many decades have come and gone.

Members of Parliament have advocated for an end to the theft that reportedly gained traction in the ’80s.

There was no end in sight.

In fact, farmers witnessed a momentous increase in livestock theft.

The problem persisted until September 9, 2021 when President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, upon learning of the gravity of the problem during his meetings at Semolale and Mabolwe, set up a commission of inquiry into the alleged cross-border livestock rustling led by Mr Gabriel Seeletso.

The commission would submit report on November 30, 2021.

At the time a total of 746 animals were reported stolen in 2019.

In 2020 a total of 719 animals were reportedly smuggled into Zimbabwe while 427 were reported stolen as at September 2021.

The Seeletso commission among other things established the problem of livestock rustling in the Bobirwa villages along Botswana/Zimbabwe border and determined the extent of the problem.

The commission further established, from the perspective of the community, what was done to address the problem and any mitigating measures initiated by the community to deal with the problem.

Following the commission of inquiry, Zimbabwe ambassador to Botswana, Mr Henry Mukonoweshuro, under instructions from Zimbabwe President, Mr Emerson Mnangagwa, visited the affected villages and toured livestock rustling hotspots along the border.

Ambassador Mukonoweshuro was shown some footpaths that crossed the border from and into Zimbabwe.

One of the notable routes was named N1, after a high way in South Africa that stretches from Cape Town to Beit Bridge on the border of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Subsequent to ambassador’s visit to Bobirwa region, Dr Masisi and Mr Mnangagwa met in Victoria Falls during a bi-national commission, where cross-border livestock theft between the two neighbouring SADC countries was discussed among other burning issues.

At the said bi-national commission the two heads of state instructed their police commissioners to tighten security along the border on either side and ensure that the crime was nipped in the bud.

Just recently at Mabolwe Border Post, Zimbabwe commissioner general of police, Mr Tandabantu Matanga confirmed to a Botswana/Zimbabwe joint meeting of security forces the instructions to tighten security along Botswana/Zimbabwe border.

Acting Botswana Police commissioner, Mr Phemelo Ramakorwane relayed the same from President Masisi.

As a result of the aforementioned interventions, farmers in Semolale, during a meeting with Dr Masisi, reported some significant positive changes and expected to see the tail end of the nagging problem that has exhausted them both physically and mentally.

“Since the start of the concerted efforts, especially with the formation of mephato, we have realised a drop in the cross-border livestock theft incidents.

In fact, we are experiencing a few, sparse incidents these days,” mephato patron, Mr Mooketsi Sebola told President Masisi.

Mr Sebola said that the situation was once so dire that the farmers contemplated giving up on livestock rearing and pursuing other avenues of livelihood.

He also noted a positive development in Zimbabwe, where ‘Operation Where Do You Get The Meat’ yields positive results.

Anyone seen in possession of meat is charged with explaining the source of meat.

“We have since observed and experienced some drastic changes following your visit here last year,” Kgosi Joel Masilo said to Dr Masisi.

Kgosi Masilo said such changes ushered in hope for his people as the interventions resulted in the reduction in crime.

Coordinator of mephato, Mr Gakegonyatse Mathora also exuded optimism that the end of cross-border livestock theft was so near after realising significant reduction.

“We will soon go to the farmers and inform them that the situation is now under control,” said Mr Mathora.

At the beginning of the mephato initiative no one took the move seriously or even dared to lend a helping hand to men and women whose hearts were utterly harrowed by the cross-border crime experience, Mr Mathora added.

From January up to July 5, only 15 cases of livestock theft were registered, all of which were detected.

The majority of the animals were intercepted before crossing into Zimbabwe while a few were found in Zimbabwe and were handed over to Zimbabwe police, Semolale Police Station commander, Mr Edward Leposo revealed in an interview.

“We made breakthroughs in all the cases,” said superintendent Leposo. ENDS