The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
CATTLE form the backbone of small-holder farming due to their economic and cultural value.
Sadly, stock-theft has dealt a fatal blow to efforts by some farmers in Headlands to grow their herd as cattle rustlers are frequenting the area.
This evil is more pronounced on communal and resettled farmers than on their commercial counterparts who have access to advanced security measures like fences and electronic tags.
The Manica Post was this week inundated by cries from Headlands farmers who have fallen victim of cattle rustling syndicates.
Farmers said stock-theft has become an uncontrollable challenge, with dozens of cattle being stolen from kraals at night.
This development is crippling their operations, food security, livelihoods and income streams.
Friday evening, Mr Phillip Matikiti of Village 24, Magaragada in Headlands lost three bovines with an estimated value of USD2500 to criminals.
The rustlers allegedly pounced at night and drove the bovines from the kraal.
The beasts were slaughtered and skinned about 500 metres away from the kraal.
On the same night, two other cattle were stolen from the Matsvai homestead, while the Maforo homestead in the Arnoldine Mission got robbed of three beasts.
All five cattle were slaughtered that same night a few meters away from their kraals.
The cases were reported to Headlands and Inyati Police Stations in Rusape District respectively.
The criminals skinned the cattle and harvested the steak.
The bones, heads, offals and hides were all left behind, thereby raising strong suspicions that the steak was destined for bulky sausage and mince manufacturing outlets, and not butcheries.
Mr Matikiti was at a loss for words.
He said the bovines were tied by ropes and eight sharp knives were recovered from the scene.
“My entire wealth and livelihood has been wiped out. This evil has dealt my family a fatal blow as the rustlers targeted the oxen we rely on for draught power. This is the work of the devil. They had all the time to peel off the flesh and leave behind the bones. I least expected this, and don’t know where to start. It was a dark Friday for my family,” he said.
Investigations conducted by The Manica Post revealed that the tragedy that befell Mr Matikiti was just a tip of the iceberg.
Hordes of farmers in the maize and tobacco producing area are licking their wounds after suffering the same ordeal.
Messrs Tino Chapepa Chihota of Village 23A, Chinyudze; Gandi Chirinda of Village 24, in Chinyudze; J Maforo of Arnoldine Mission; Muzanemhamo Simbabure and one Nyatsanza, both of Village 24, lost three beasts each to the rustlers early this year.
Mr David Muzarabani, a cattle breeder in Chiropa Village, said he lost 12 bovines valued at US$5 000 in 2021.
He has since reduced his herd to 30 as he fears that the criminals might strike again.
Mr Muzarabani said in January they raided a truck that was carrying four cattle that had been stolen from their area and effected a citizens’ arrest on the suspects.
“The truck was destined for Rusape and we called the police and the suspects were arrested. The cattle were positively identified by the owners. All the suspects were from the local community, and as we speak they are out on bail, and it becomes food for thought when the vice is scaled-up like this.
“The criminals always peel off the steak and leave everything else at the scene. You can tell that the meat is not meant for display in butcheries because such meat has to be sliced in a manner that entices customers.
“These criminals most likely deal with outlets that make bulky sausages and mincemeat who do not care how the steak has been cut. They just take it for grinding,” said Mr Muzarabani.
However, others believe that some butchery operators and backyard take-away operators are allegedly offering a ready market for these daring criminals.
Mr Muzarabani said over 30 stolen cattle were recently recovered in Pfumoiguru.
No arrests were made.
“I could not locate my stone cattle from that lot, but other farmers were told to take back their cattle. However, both the culprit who had stolen and sold the cattle and the buyers were not arrested. Police only advised the farmers to take their cattle,” he said.
Another farmer, Mr Tendai Nyagweta, said cattle rustlers have been terrorising their area for a very long time.
“We are infuriated because this has been going in the area for a long time. Several people that have been implicated and arrested after being found with stolen cattle are released on bail. Why are these criminals being released on bail?
“The courts should fast-track the trial of these criminals instead of releasing them on bail so that they continue terrorising farmers,” said Mr Nyagweta.
He said he suspects that some unscrupulous locals, police officers, bogus traditional leaders and businessmen are part of the syndicates.
For instance, Mr Isiah Chimboza allegedly had his bovines cleared without his consent.
They were then stolen in connivance with an unscrupulous cop who has since been jailed over a pangolin case.
Manicaland police spokesperson, Inspector Nobert Muzondo could neither confirm nor deny the development.
“It’s not sounding good at all. Let me engage the provincial command. Statistics have to be authorised at national level,” said Inspector Muzondo.
However, he had not availed the responses by the time of going to print.
Manicaland has a fully-fledged anti-stock theft unit responsible for handling such cases.
The unit is on record urging farmers to take cattle branding seriously and establish rapport with their local anti-stock theft units since criminals benefit when the relationship between the police and farmers is poor.
Farmers should also enhance their local community policing by patrolling their areas at night and reporting any cases of stock-theft immediately.
They should also establish kraals in one area for easy nightly patrol by local security apparatus and be cognisant of unknown persons roaming their area.
Farmers are encouraged to be on the look-out for unknown vehicles, or camping activities in their areas.
They should also be the look-out for changes in the normal behaviour of their employees and never ignore the unexplainable death of guard or community dogs.
Cattle are a vital component of agriculture, which is a key driver of the country’s economy, and a more radical approach is needed to eradicate cattle rustling.
There is urgent need to flash out syndicates of rustlers that have made stock-theft their core business.
