There appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel for communal farmers in the Zambezi region, as they continue to lose their livestock at the hands of progressively ferocious cattle rustlers, mainly from Zambia, who continue to cross borders illegally to steal cattle in Namibia.
Stock theft is high in Zambezi region and over the past five months over 200 cattle have reportedly been stolen, and driven into Zambia where there is a lucrative black market. Rustlers sell stolen animals to butcheries in Zambia and some even use these stolen animals to pay lobola.
In a recent incident, 18 cattle, which were stolen about two weeks ago at Kasheshe village in the Sibbinda constituency of Zambezi region, were repatriated to Namiba via the Katima Mulilo (Wenela) border on Wednesday.
Zambezi police spokesperson Kisco Sitali said the cattle were recovered on Tuesday at the Lusu area – about 60 kilometres from the Katima Mulilo border.
“They were recovered through the help of the community members in Zambia, together with our anti-stock theft unit who were pursuing the case,” said Sitali.
According to cattle owner Alistar Twabushalila, the cattle were stolen on the morning of 3 September 2022 at around 09h00 shortly after they were released from the kraal.
Twabushalila appealed to the authorities to help combat the increase in stock theft in the region.
“They should deploy the army this side; otherwise, our cattle will finish. Each and every day, our cattle are crossing the border. They don’t know how much we suffer to get these cattle for someone just to come and take them freely,” stated Twabushalila.
Sitali, however, explained the anti-stock theft unit with their Zambian counterparts is working hard in combating this crime.
He also appealed to cattle farmers to always visit their cattle posts to check on their animals.
“We are in joint border patrol with Zambia. Although it does not happen on a daily basis, on a quarterly basis, we do it to check how safe our borders are and see the illegal activities that are happening,” explained Sitali.