Over 320 livestock stolen in Zambezi in nine months

An anti-stock-theft association in the Zambezi Region managed to recover 214 of 327 stolen livestock – valued at more than N$1.8 million – between January and September.

The Liselo-Kamenga Anti-Stock-Theft Association, which has been involved in the recovery of stolen livestock both locally and across the border in Zambia, was unable to recover 113 livestock to the value of N$960 000.

Gender equality and social welfare minister Doreen Sioka said this in her contribution on a motion regarding the impact of stock theft in communities, as well as the impact of current legislative frameworks to combat this crime.

Stock theft has been and continues to be a matter of serious concern in Zambezi, with it causing major economic damage to livestock farmers, she said.

Sioka added that farmers who reside near the Namibia-Zambia border came up with idea to form an anti-stock-theft association due to the weekly - if not daily - increase in the number of cross-border stock theft, and to assist the police to curb this crime.

“Since the formation of the association, there has been a significant increase in recoveries of livestock, both in Zambia and locally in the Zambezi Region alongside the border from Katima Mulilo to Singalamwe/Kamenga.”

Cattle for cheap

According to Sioka, poverty is among the leading causes of stock theft.

She said some Namibians are recruited and collaborate with Zambian nationals to steal cattle from Namibia at a payment of N$300 per animal upon arrival.

This is despite all the risks involved - of being caught and arrested with the possibility of a prison sentence, she said.

The minister added that those who operate meat-selling businesses through small abattoirs on the black market buy stolen cattle from thieves at a very cheap price.

“For example, cattle which could be sold for N$9 000 can be sold for N$1 800 to N$2 500,” she said.

Sioka said the current price of meat on the black market in Zambia, Sesheke and Katima Mulilo is around N$45 per kilogram.

The border between Namibia and Zambia is very easy to cross due to the distance, she said, adding that the area is not dense.

“This makes it easier to cross with cattle unnoticed and makes it more difficult in case the trackers are following.”

She further noted that the absence of security border patrols and Namibian Police visibility along the Namibia-Zambia border is another major contributing factor to cross-border stock theft.

Zambian cattle herders

Sioka said Zambezi’s black market for meat operates without being monitored and controlled in townships such as Chotto, Cowboy, Macaravan East and West, and all rural areas of the region.

“Anyone at any time can slaughter and sell meat under a tree.”

According to her, Namibians are unwilling to work as cattle herders, and instead employ Zambian nationals to do the job.

“We rely on Zambians as our workers, whereby some of them come and steal from of their employer,” she said.

She highlighted that security patrols and police visibility along the border, especially in well-known hotspots, are possible solutions to the issue.

Another is the clearing of the border between Katima Mulilo and Singalamwe/Kamega for better visibility and easy cattle tracking.

The Namibian and Zambian governments should address the issue of stock theft, she urged.

“Our government should come up with a law that regulates the formations of anti-stock-theft forums among farmers.”