ZRP cracks whip on cattle rustlers, intensifies anti-stock theft crusade

GUTU – POLICE commander Anti-stock theft Committee, Fredrick Mbengwa was in Gutu yesterday to meet Chief Gutu born Lawrence Chigariro, headmen and village heads as part of a nationwide campaign against stock theft.

The meeting discussed and thrashed out strategies to contain rampant stock theft that is terrorizing farmers.
Mbengwa was accompanied by National Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi and Masvingo East District Commander Chief Superintendent Passmore Nhetekwa and Gutu District Development Coordinator (DDC) Chiedza Tafirei.

Among the strategies discussed included the formation of Village Anti-Stock theft Committees (VASTC) of 10 members each. The committee would carry out patrols during the day and night. The Committee has a right to question any suspicious individuals or search vehicles.

Villagers were also told to train their dogs so that they sleep at the cattle pens where they will also be given food from.
The villagers were also advised to erect a twine right round their cattle and connect it to tins near bedrooms.
Stumbling into the twine would trigger noise on the tins.
Every village is required to have a pound master whose duty is to keep an inventory of all stray cattle.
Anti-stock theft Police details are also going to be deployed at all tollgates.
They also agreed that during branding all cattle should have the phone number of the owner on the brand. Every village must apply for a brand certificate which costs only US$5.

Villagers called on Police to have quick reaction teams in case of sightings of the Police. They also asked Police not to come for investigations in uniform.

The villagers complained that Police demanded fuel from complainants and some cops work in complicit with stock thieves by issuing fake clearance certificates.

Nyathi said they decided to engage traditional leaders because most thefts occur in their areas of jurisdiction and they are the custodians of the national herd and are privy to the problems caused by the thefts.

Source: Masvingo Mirror