Cattle rustling is on the rise in Chivhu, Zimbabwe, leaving farmers on edge. Just a month after six steers were k!lled, 72-year-old farmer Evious Mbokochena lost two cows to thieves, who slaughtered them at a nearby farm and made off with 15kg of meat.
According to Zimpapers, The police are now searching for the culprits, but this isn’t an isolated incident. In recent weeks, there have been several similar thefts in the area.
In Trelawney, Banket, 21 cattle were stolen, with nine slaughtered and deboned within an hour. The thi3ves left behind 37 new knives, empty sacks, and bags filled with meat.
Another herd was driven away from a pen in Selous, but alert police officers spotted one of the rustlers, who escaped.
The community is taking notice, and some cattle thieves have faced justice. Three men from Harare were sentenced to nine years each for stealing cattle in Karoi and selling the meat in Harare.
However, the continued attacks have farmers in Chivhu and surrounding areas losing sleep, worried about the next raid.
This trend of cattle rustling isn’t unique to Zimbabwe. In neighboring Uganda, the practice has been a longstanding issue, with armed groups stealing livestock and sometimes k!ll!ng people.
The Ugandan government has launched disarmament campaigns, but the problem persists. Farmers in Chivhu and beyond hope that law enforcement can curb these crimes and restore peace to their communities
