01 Jun 2026

Botswana Police Service continues to register cases of cross-border cattle rustling on the Eastern side of Okavango River, along Botswana and Namibia border.

According to officer commanding, District No.17, Senior Superintendent Peggy Vakalisa, the district registered four cases of cattle rustling from January to May this year involving 61 cattle from Gudigwa, Beetsha and Eretsha villages.

She said cattle were smuggled while grazing in free range land through the Namibian border to Zambia where a suspected syndicate and illicit market was believed to be in operation.

Updating Okavango District full council session on Friday, Ms Vakalisa said in some instances smuggled cattle were intercepted in Namibia and Zambia with the help of farmers and officials.

Currently, she said Botswana government, through the Department of Veterinary Services was in the process to repatriate 56 cattle which were intercepted by the Namibian farmers and officials, saying the cattle were to be culled upon arrival in Botswana as per the veterinary regulations.

She said affected farmers will be compensated.

Ms Vakalisa said the Namibian government through their veterinary services had in the past allowed the Botswana government in association with affected farmers to sell cattle found in their country, but in the wake of Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak, the positive option which was more beneficial to the farmers will not be possible.

Snr Supt Vakalisa said one Zambian national suspected of cattle smuggling in a cattle post near Gudigwa village was arrested in February this year.

 Upon questioning, the suspect disclosed that together with his companions who eluded arrest entered the country illegally with intent to smuggle cattle and sell in Zambia.

The suspect was subsequently charged and sentenced to one year imprisonment on one count of entering the country illegally and was yet to be deported to his country.

Further, Snr Supt Vakalisa said the government of Botswana had intensified border patrols in the affected villages by deploying Botswana Defense Force squads while farmers had also formed associations to participate in patrols.

However, she said farmers faced wild animals threat to their safety during patrols. ends