OSHAKATI – Oshana farmers on Friday converged at the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on Friday demanding justice following the court appearance of two men convicted of stock theft.
The offenders appeared before court after allegedly being found with fresh cattle meat believed to have been stolen from local farmers.
The two are expected to be sentenced today as anger continues to grow among affected communities.
“These people are destroying the lives of our farmers. One head of cattle today costs more than N$15 000, and some farmers have lost more than five head of cattle within a short period,” said Olupumbu headman Shipanga Ambunda.
He said stock theft has become one of the biggest threats facing rural communities, with criminals targeting cattle inside village kraals during the night.
A farmer from Oshuulo village, Tikitifa Indombo, said they no longer sleep peacefully, as thieves continue entering villages and slaughtering cattle before disappearing.
“Our people are living in fear because their cattle are no longer safe. Farmers are suffering greatly, and some families are losing their only source of income,” he added.
Indombo accused some vendors of encouraging stock theft by buying meat from suspicious sources without demanding proper documentation from sellers.
He said the growing demand for cheap meat sold illegally on the streets was creating opportunities for criminals to continue stealing livestock from villages.
“When people continue buying cheap meat without permits or proof of ownership, they create a market for criminals to continue stealing cattle,” he said.
Another affected farmer, Johannes Nambili, lost six cattle this year alone, leaving him with heavy financial losses. Nambili said some of his cattle disappeared without a trace, while others were later discovered slaughtered in nearby bushes.
“I worked hard for many years to build my herd, but now thieves are taking everything away from us. Some of my cattle disappeared while others were found slaughtered,” he said. Another farmer, Selma Amutenya, said thieves stole four cattle from her kraal despite efforts to secure the animals every evening.
Amutenya said cattle farming remains the main source of income for many families in the area, and losing livestock has pushed households into financial hardship.
“We lock our kraals every evening, but criminals still manage to enter and steal our livestock. Families are suffering because cattle help us pay school fees and buy food,” she said.
A farmer, Paulus Ashipala, said he lost more than five cattle over the past year and fears the situation may continue worsening if authorities fail to act strongly.
Ashipala claimed thieves are now targeting isolated villages where farmers struggle to protect their livestock from organised criminal groups.
“For us, cattle are our bank. Losing cattle means losing our future and our children’s future. These thieves know exactly where to go and how to operate,” he said.
Meanwhile, kapana vendors in Oshakati defended themselves against accusations that stolen cattle meat is ending up in informal markets.
Some vendors said legitimate traders only buy cattle after receiving proper documentation and proof of ownership from sellers.
“We do not just buy meat from random people because we know stock theft is a serious problem. We ask for papers before buying,” said one vendor.
The Oshana police have also warned vendors and members of the public against buying livestock or meat from suspicious sources without permits.
“We continue urging vendors and buyers not to purchase cattle or meat from the streets without proper documentation because that encourages stock theft,” they said.
Police urged communities to cooperate with law enforcement officers and report suspicious activities linked to stock theft.