A wave of cattle rustling incidents has been sweeping across Zimbabwe, leaving farmers on edge and law enforcement agencies scrambling to contain the situation.
In the latest incident, a gang of thi3ves targeted a farm in Chivhu, Mashonaland East, k*lling six cattle and making off with the meat.
The farm employee discovered the gruesome scene on Tuesday last week, sparking a manhunt for the culprits.
This brazen th3ft is part of a larger trend of stock th3ft that’s been plaguing the country. Farmers in Mashonaland West are at their wit’s end, calling on the police to adopt a shoot-to-k*ll approach to deter these criminals.
The situation is dire, with 21 head of cattle st0len from a farm in Trelawney, Banket, and nine slaughtered within an hour.
The thieves left behind 37 brand new knives, empty bags, and meat-stuffed sacks, a chilling reminder of the brutality of their crime.
The authorities are fighting back, with three men from Harare recently sentenced to nine years each for stealing cattle in Karoi and selling the meat in Harare.
Tapiwa Tsingidzi, Fast Mutata, and Emmerson Makahamadze were found guilty of stock th3ft and sentenced to prison, with six months suspended on condition that they pay $1,000 to the cattle owner.
Cattle rustling has become a major concern in Zimbabwe, with farmers facing significant losses and communities affected by the vi0lence and fear that accompanies these crimes.
The government has issued warnings to cattle rustlers, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of this problem.
Recent Cattle Rustling Incidents: Mhondoro Ward 1: 10 cattle st0len and slaughtered near homesteads. Trelawney, Banket: 21 head of cattle stolen, nine slaughtered within an hour. Selous, Chegutu: herd of cattle driven away by thi3ves.
The fight against cattle rustling requires a multi-faceted approach, including community engagement, improved security measures, and stern punishment for those caught. Only then can farmers and communities feel safe and secure once again.
