Blessing Nduku & Buhle Mhlaulo
Cases of Stock theft have reached alarming proportions in the Midlands Province with over 1000 cases reported in the past year alone.
A comprehensive guide to securing livestock was reviewed at a recent Anti-Stock Theft Awareness Campaign held at Hovana Secondary School in Bomba.
Speaking at this event Alfred Chidhakwa who was representing the Civil Registrar advised and emphasized the importance of getting personal brands on their livestock.
“All farmers need to ensure that their livestock are branded because it will reduce the reason why we are gathered here to relaunch which is stock theft and I ensure every farmer here that they will get these brands at our civil Registry office for only USD 5 and they will come as soon as they are ordered.”
“Getting your stock a brand will mean that your stock is easily identified in case someone steals it and tries to sell it to abattoirs, even the police will not clear it for sale because the personal brands include information like where you are from, who your herd man is as well as your national Identity number.”
A dedicated task force has been established which includes an Anti-Stock Theft committee that will involve the police and farmers who will be checking cleared cattle and the Village Anti-Stock Theft Committees that will have farmers who will be monitoring all movements of cattle in a certain area.
Officer Commanding Police Midlands Province Commissioner P Badza went on to stretch out other strategies that have been used by the Police to curb stock theft in the Province.
“The police have been working tirelessly to ensure that they catch these perpetrators hence early morning and night time roadblocks are being used by the police to combat movement of stock by night. Rural District Councils are encouraged to help introduce a collection point where all transporters load their stock after verification.”
The Anti-Stock Theft campaign has marked a significant turning point in the Midlands province’s fight against livestock theft. As the campaign continues to gain momentum, a safer and more secure future for farming in communities continues to be on the horizon.
