Commercial and communal farmers in the Otjozondjupa region were not spared from the brunt of prowling cattle rustlers in the region’s various settlements, who stole a staggering 289 head of cattle worth almost N$3 million in the last year. 

The shocking statistics were revealed by Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua during his state of the region address.

A further combined 369 goats and sheep, valued at N$605 000, were also stolen from commercial and communal farmers during the 2022/23 period. 

“Being the region with the highest number of livestock, both in total per region as well as per capita, there are indeed numerous challenges facing the livestock sector, and key of all is stock theft in both commercial and communal areas. Of the stolen 289 cattle, 13 were recorded by police slaughtered carcasses and dried meat. The police further arrested and charged 47 suspects for hunting of various game species,” said the governor. 

Despite numerous interventions by the police and regional leadership, Otjozondjupa remains one of the regions that record the highest number of livestock theft, along with fellow cattle-rich Omaheke. 

Last year, between January and October, a total of 750 cases of livestock theft were reported to the police. 

The biggest chunk came from Otjozondjupa and Omaheke. Of that number, over 451 animals were stolen from Otjozondjupa, while 225 were taken by rustlers in Omaheke.

When this year’s statistics are juxtaposed to last year’s statistics, a drastic decrease in the number of stolen livestock within the Otjozondjupa region is observed, especially when compared to the figures reported between January and December 2021, where the region recorded 488 cases. 

But Uerikua yesterday insisted that more needs to be done to safeguard the livelihoods of commercial and communal farmers, as they are the backbone of the regional economy.

“I would, therefore, like to warn those who engage in crimes of stock theft and illegal hunting of game that the long arm of the law will one day catch up with you, and no mercy shall be shown. I am calling upon the police to work closely with local farmers, anti-stock theft units and support them wherever possible, as they have proven to be of great assistance and effective in the fight against livestock theft,” he stated. 

Communal land registration

The governor also shared insights on the Otjozondjupa communal land board activities for 2022/23. 

During the period under review, the board managed to register a total of 35 customary land rights at the cost of almost N$59 million, which includes mapping, verification of customary land rights and land board meetings expenditure.

“There is an ever-growing demand for farming and resettlement land in the region and beyond. The demand is high and supply is low. I, therefore, urge all the inhabitants of the region and the rest of Namibia to be very patient while the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, derives methodologies and accelerates the implementation of the land conference resolutions on some of the pertinent issues on land reform. 

“There has been a growing trend of farm evictions, and this is a course of concern to the regional leadership. I, therefore, urge the ministry of land to prioritise the farmers in the corridors,” the technocrat-turned-politician said. 

- ohembapu@nepc.com.na