Africa-Press – Botswana. Residents of Mokubilo and Makgaba villages in Boteti East are unhappy with rampant stock theft in the area.
In a series of kgotla meetings addressed by the area MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe, residents pleaded for help from the police and relevant stakeholders, saying the situation was getting out of hand.
Perpetrators reportedly carried dangerous weapons and use horses to drive stolen cattle to faraway places.
Residents also said the dilapidated cordon fence somehow aided thieves to effortlessly drive away cattle from Mmea, Mokubilo, Makgaba and other settlements.
They, therefore, suggested regular maintenance of the fence by the Department of Veterinary Services.
Assistant Superintendent Philemon Mpulubusi of Letlhakane police attested to the reports, saying they received many on stolen cattle in the area.
He said six men were recently arrested in connection with stock theft.
Assistant Superintendent Mpulubusi highlighted that preliminary investigations indicated that the thieves targeted people selling food by the roadside in Letlhakane and Francistown.
He, therefore, encouraged farmers to form crime prevention syndicates, look out for each other’s stock and work together with the police.
Mr Mpulubusi also encouraged farmers to always know their cattle whereabouts and not let them roam the Makgadikgadi all year round unattended.
Nonetheless, a village development committee report in Mokubilo indicated that there was need for street lighting to deter crime, especially during the night.
Alternatively, the report suggested a tower light since Mokubilo was a small village.
In Makgaba, the VDC report showed that there was need for a health post since travelling to Mokubilo to access health services was cumbersome and costly.
Makgaba, a village that was gazetted in 2017, Boteti East MP said would see construction of a clinic with accommodation in the Transitional National Development Plan.
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