Khorixas
Khorixas Police Chief Inspector Hiskia Nuuyoma and Chief of #Aodaman Traditional Authority Petrus Ukongo are concerned about the rise in cases of stock theft in the northwestern part of the Kunene Region.
In an interview with New Era yesterday Nuuyoma said stock theft cases are on the increase in the northwestern parts due to a ready market for stolen meat at Swakopmund in the Erongo Region.
“’Imagine, it’s the middle of the year and we already have 35 reported cases of stock theft. Cattle are stolen and slaughtered for the Swakopmund market,” Nuuyoma said, adding that 90 percent of the suspects have been apprehended.
According to Chief Inspector Nuuyoma there is a syndicate, based at the coast, which fuels cattle theft in the northwestern part of the Kunene.
Khorixas does not have abattoirs and local farmers sell their cattle at auction. The local police chief believes coastal-based abattoirs are encouraging stock theft, as stolen meat is taken there and a number of suspects have been arrested in connection with the illegal trade in recent months.
Nuuyoma called on farmers to regularly inspect their cattle and not to put too much trust in their herders, as some are part of the stock theft syndicate.
‘Some farmers report that they don’t even know the direction their cattle went as no one looks after the cattle at times. Cattle are roaming like wild animals at times,” remarked Nuuyoma.
Chief Ukongo said stock theft is increasing in his area, as suspects with pending stock theft cases are easily given bail and when they are free they commit the very same offence a few days later.
“The suspects steal cattle, but a few days after they are given bail – and these people already have two or three stock theft cases,” Ukongo said.
“We will never wipe out stock theft as long as the accused are not punished by the courts. Maybe we, as farmers, must write letters to the magistrate and oppose bail as the same [people] are known in the cattle theft,” says Ukongo, one of the founders of Di-tsa I Mu anti-stock theft group in Khorixas.
Di-tsa I Mu means “try and see for yourself” in Khoekhoegowab and used to conduct patrols and in conjunction with the police set up road blocks, but due to lack of funding they have ceased operations, Ukongo told New Era.
He suspects that due to the fundamental human rights enshrined in the Constitution offenders are repeatedly given bail, but he feels this tendency must be checked and repeat offenders should rather remain in custody without bail.
According to Ukongo, more than five cases of stock theft were recently reported in his jurisdiction of Ward 9. “We used to have field patrols in our areas, as well as set up road blocks, but due to a lack of funding we can’t do field patrols and other operations anymore.
“Such activities discourage those who are involved in stock theft and back then it was decreasing,” Ukongo added.
The #Aodaman chief is also concerned about the low attendance rate by farmers when meetings are called by his office.
In a related case, Isaskar Abner was arrested on Saturday after he was found in possession of stolen cattle meat after a tip-off provided to the local police. He appeared in Khorixas Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Isaskar was found in possession of stolen meat, which he reportedly hid in the bushes behind Welwitchia Junior Secondary School at Khorixas.
Oftentimes the poachers cut out the brand marks and remove the heads of the cattle, making it ever more difficult for owners to identify their livestock.
Nuuyoma also called upon abattoir owners at Swakopmund to desist from buying stolen meat, as they too can be arrested.
Since the beginning of the year stock theft cases have topped the list of crimes reported to Khorixas police.
Last year the police here confiscated and impounded more than 20 stolen cattle, which they held for about six months before the owners eventually claimed them back.