Africa-Press – Botswana. Some Batswana are said to be fuelling the escalating cases of stock theft across the country.
Addressing a kgotla meeting at Dukwi recently, Officer Commanding for NO.1 district Senior Superintendent Paul Molapisi said efforts by the police to combat stock theft were frustrated by such individuals who bought meat of stolen livestock.
Snr Supt Molapisi said although the police were making great efforts to fight stock theft through KgomoKhumo, ‘some Batswana are making it difficult for them as they continue to support the criminals that are in business of stealing people’s cattle to sell the meat in the black market’.
He advised members of the public to buy fresh, clean and safe meat from authorised dealers such as butcheries or supermarkets.
Snr Supt Molapisi added that there were cases where some people even arranged to be supplied with meat by the criminals, with some having a schedule of supply.
As such, he appealed to Batswana to desist from such a practice as it was negatively impacting the livestock industry and affecting those who were registered to buy cattle and sell meat.
He said the practice was also killing the beef industry, which government was pushing for its growth. Snr Supt Molapisi noted that through importation of different quality breeds, government was determined to improve the quality and genetics of the local cattle breeds for the local farmers to get value from their animals.
Snr Supt Molapisi said farmers were suffering losses as a result of stock theft.
However, he said the police were making strides in the battle against stock theft.
Snr Supt Molapisi said his district had seven police stations and that the KgomoKhumo teams were based at Shashemooke and Zoroga.
Snr Supt Molapisi emphasised that farmers as well as the community at large should come forth with information which could help the police dismantle stock theft syndicates.
He said Botswana Police was mandate to serve the community hence working in partnership with the communities they served.
“It is for this reason that Batswana should openly and without fear share useful information which can be used to fight crime,” he said.
Furthermore, Snr. Supt Molapisi urged members of the public to join different crime prevention committees, where the police worked in partnership with the community.
Meanwhile, Kgosi Bohedile Twaelang of Dukwi has appealed to the office of the Officer Commanding to liaise with his superiors to set up a porta cabin or build a new police station in the village.
Kgosi Twaelang said the village had a plot allocated for a police station. He said currently the village was serviced by police officers who were stationed at Dukwi Refugee Camp, making it difficult for some residents to access its services.
In addition, Kgosi Twaelang requested for the number of police officers at the station to be increased from the current 31 so that they were served the village and surrounding areas better.
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