Ongwediva
Livestock communal farmers in Uukolonkadhi and Uukwakududhi are dispirited by the recent upsurge in stock theft. Allegations are that Angolan thieves plunder their cattle and herd them across the border into their country.
Farmers involved in cattle rearing in the two traditional areas recently held a peaceful demonstration against ramphant stock theft more specifically in the Ruacana area, where thieves reportedly take advantage of the porous unfenced border.
A group of farmers at Onesi in Omusati Region together with the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority recently handed a petition to the Governor of Omusati Region, Erick Endjala, the Omusati Regional Police commander, Commissioner Simoen Shindinge, and the Outapi control prosecutor, Pinias Mpofu.
According to the secretary for the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority, Malakia Shoombe, who read the petition, a total of 760 cattle, 391 goats and 50 sheep were stolen from the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015.
Shoombe said two Angolan suspects were caught red-handed last week stealing cattle and he urged the Outapi control prosecutor not to grant them bail.
“These two suspects must not be given bail because people in the society do not want to have them again in their area, as this has now become habitual,” read the petition scribbled by aggrieved residents of Uukolonkadhi and Uukwakududhi. Communal farmers called for the intervention of the governor’s office so that the issue could be referred to the president’s office.
The petition further requested that those who buy the stolen animals be dealt the harshest punishment commensurate with their deeds.
Farmers further asked that the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Sebstatian Ndeitunga, take action by increasing police manpower along the border and that border patrols be increased.
“The long distances between police stations have made it difficult for the police officers to attend to any case reported between the stations, and stock theft investigations are very few in the area,” claimed the petitioners.
Villagers said farmers consider their livestock as the backbone of the country’s economy and that stock animals such as cattle, goats and sheep play a major role when villagers have urgent family needs that require money. These needs, they said, include paying for their children’s school fees, buying food and clothing and paying for medicine.
The police public relations officer Warrant Officer Lineekela Shikongo revealed that two Angolan suspects were arrested on May 25 at Okamwandikamavinga near Onesi with cattle worth N$4 000.
“Some of the farmers who experience stock theft don’t report to the police,” said Shikongo. Shikongo added that from June 2014 to this year only 11 cases were reported in which 39 head of cattle were allegedly stolen in Onesi. Criminals herd the stolen cattle away from the grazing areas.
“We appeal to farmers to start looking after their animals in a proper way and keep them in a kraal. That will help minimise the trend of stock theft in the area,” urged Shikongo.
She added that the police are trying to educate the community on preventive measure but that it is important for farmers to report stock theft to the police as soon as possible, because the police are ready to assist them if the information is reliable and given speedily.
The two Angolans suspects Sackaria Foreman Waripi, 29, and Ananias Natangwe Shanyengange, 31, already appeared in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court. Their case was postponed for further police investigations.
The two were remanded in police custody.