14 Jul 2022

Residents of Gogomoga settlement in the outskirts of Maun are living in fear due to stock theft increase.

Residents alleged in interviews that stock theft increase was due to a syndicate that roamed the area at night.

Village Development Committee secretary, Mr John Kabelo said on average, three to four animals were stolen and killed daily.

“Our communities suffer greatly when they lose their animals because most earn a living through selling them,” he added.

He said it seemed the perpetrators had secured a lucrative market in Maun.

They reportedly slaughtered the stolen animals in an open space between Gogomoga Bridge and Maun .

Mr Kabelo said perpetrators removed ear tags and brand marks to destroy evidence. 

He alleged that some butchery owners bought meat from stolen cattle, further compounding the problem.

He said the community engaged the police via tip-offs and as a result, some arrests had been made. 

However,  Mr Kabelo said the situation had not improved as some culprits on bail repeated the offence.

He said some culprits had the tendency of attacking the residents, claiming that they had falsely accused them of stealing their cattle.

Another resident, Ms Boineelo Kalaloka, concurred that stock theft was rampant in their area, with animals stolen and killed every night, despite the people’s community policing initiatives.

The 42-year-old woman said she had lost four cattle that she bought with her savings after she lost her job.

Narrating her ordeal, she explained that she bought six cattle to make ends meet, but the thieves stole and killed four, leaving behind their calves.

 “I received information from some members of the community that some skins were spotted behind the bridge, where I positively identified four of my animals. I was depending on the animals as they were my major source of income,” she added.

Ms Kalaloka said although she had some suspicions, she could not report the incident to the police for fear of being attacked, adding that stock theft had resulted in violence and mistrust in the community.

She urged the community to join forces with the police to ensure those who stole others’ animals were apprehended and suitably dealt with.

Livestock, she said was important to the daily lives of many people in rural areas.

Meanwhile, in a recent meeting, Maun Police’s Assistant Superintendent Tabengwa Magwama admitted that stock theft was rife in the district. 

He noted that local butcheries exacerbated the situation by buying stolen meat.

Supt. Magwama said they had strategies in place to tackle the problem, such as inspecting butcheries twice a week and reviving community clusters. Ends