Police in Nyabira, Mashonaland West province have arrested seven people and recovered 17 stolen cattle so far this year as part of efforts to crack down on rising incidents of stock theft in the district.
The seven accused persons have been sentenced to jail terms ranging from 9 to 14 years. According to Chief Superintendent Resistant Ncube, who heads the Nyabira district, police received 178 reports of stock theft in the first five months of this year compared to 156 cases in the same period last year. This represents a significant increase of 22%.
A total of 161 cattle have been stolen so far this year, compared to 86 thefts last year. Superintendent Ncube attributes the rising stock theft cases to a lack of security measures among farmers.
He is urging farmers to work more closely with the police by reporting any suspicious activity. Superintendent Ncube also recommends that farmers form anti-stock theft committees, pen livestock collectively at night, brand their cattle for identification and obtain movement permits when selling or buying cattle.
The Nyabira district police have launched an anti-stock theft campaign in the area and are working to curb the problem through awareness raising, arrests and prosecution of culprits. Superintendent Ncube assures residents that police will continue to come up with new strategies and work with the community to protect the national herd.
