FARMERS in Matabeleland South Province have raised alarm over the increasing cases of stocktheft, claiming that stolen livestock is being used to smuggle illicit goods including drugs across the Limpopo River in Beitbridge.
Matabeleland South province has implemented several measures aimed at curbing stocktheft, including the formation of anti-stocktheft associations in communities.
However, the issue persists, as stolen livestock continues to be exploited at the busy border post.
Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Albert Nguluvhe earlier this year issued a directive for the destruction of illegal structures along the Limpopo River, particularly tents erected close to the river.
In an interview with Southern Eye, Nguluvhe acknowledged the challenges and emphasised the importance of collaboration.
“So far, I have chaired meetings attended by traditional leaders, police, veterinary officers and anti-stocktheft associations,” he said.
“They are beginning to work together. Locals live among the thieves and should pass that information to the police. Previously, there was a lack of co-ordination.”
Nguluvhe said the Joint Operations Command (JOC) was actively removing illegal settlements along the border area.
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“I do not believe in the blame game but in identifying problems and offering solutions. I have instructed the JOC in my province to remove illegal settlements along the border,” he said.
“If you check recently, many arrests have been made. There is now good co-operation between farmers and police, some of our traditional leaders were also involved in clearing stolen livestock.”
However, Beitbridge villager Patrick Dube told Southern Eye that smuggling areas have become no-go areas for farmers seeking to recover stolen cattle.
“They attack us for going there in search of our livestock. As the community in Beitbridge, we request new police officers or departmental rotations, because the current ones have failed to arrest the thieves and may have even befriended them,” he said.
“One such case involved a man who committed multiple robberies along the riverbank while dressed in army uniform. He was released on bail and reportedly bragged about his release to residents.
“We got a tip-off about a man wearing an army jacket and carrying pepper spray, which he used to rob people. We raided his place at night and found a fake gun along with other items.”
Dube said the man appeared in court, leading to other offences being uncovered, but he was granted bail.
“The suspect went around telling people that he got his belongings (the army jacket and pepper spray) back after paying a bribe of R6 000,” Dube said.
The villagers, he said, returned to the police after the incident and requested the superintendent to continue the investigation.
“We later heard that the officer-in-charge was transferred to Plumtree and the matter was dropped,” Dube said.
He said they filed a complaint with the police on March 3 this year regarding a truck headed for Musina, travelling along the Limpopo River carrying 53 goats, of which 40 had clearance documents and the other 13 were undocumented.
The truck was detained at the police station so that farmers could identify the 13 goats without clearance.
“To our surprise, the truck was released early in the morning before the farmers arrived,” he said.
