Stock theft has become rampant and difficult to contain thus keeping the police on their toes as the country is rocked by stock theft cases that are becoming difficult to contain.
This form of crime is causing great misery to farmers in Botswana, especially in rural communities that largely depend on agriculture for a living. As stock theft cases escalate, the police say that most of the meat consumed in major towns and villages is from stolen livestock thus making stock theft one of the most lucrative undertakings in the country.
The Botswana Police Service’s (BPS) anti-stock theft operation dubbed Kgomo Khumo, has invaded Palapye and Mahalapye areas and their presence is evident as butcheries are dry with no meat, a clear indication that indeed most businesses rely on stolen livestock for their businesses. Beef products are in demand and stock theft has become a well paying job as the demand for meat remains high on a daily basis. This is so serious to the extent that some of the butcheries rely on stolen livestock for supplies.
Recently three men operating butcheries in Thomadithotse and Serorome wards in Palapye were arrested and charged with stealing stock after they were found in possession of cow carcasses in their butcheries they could not account for. With the current situation in the area, it is possible for the police to raid homesteads and make away with pots cooking suspicious meat.
The good news is that the operation has since exposed some of the members of the alleged stock theft syndicates, raided 21 butcheries in the area, confiscated stolen meat even from on sale displays and duly arrested the suspects. To show how lucrative stock theft is, most of the suspects or convicts hardly quit from stock theft as most of them are repeat offenders and they further commit offences whilst on bail. Investigations of these cases are usually very difficult and complex as suspected criminals prefer to be tried at the Magistrates’ Courts where they exercise their right to legal representation as opposed to Customary Courts where they are not given a chance to representation by attorneys. For years, farmers have been blaming the roadside cooks, popularly known as bo-mmaseapei and butchery owners as they believe it is where their cattle go to. There are too many of these informal sector cooks and they buy a lot of meat on daily basis and this pushes demand up.
Due to this demand, cattle thieves are thus under pressure to keep the supply side going hence it is no coincidence that stock theft has become a complex operation. In the end, we salute the police for doing a wonderful job.
Today's thought
“The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
