Illegal livestock and meat agents stimulates stock theft

Harare - At least 2 993 cattle have been stolen throughout the countrywide this year against 5 377 last year, with the police warning that it will deal ruthlessly with the agents fueling the thefts.

Speaking on the sidelines of a national anti-stock theft stakeholders meeting in Chitungwiza on Tuesday, Zimbabwe Republic Police senior assistant commissioner Bernard Dumbura said despite the decrease in stock theft there are still challenges of indiscipline in the livestock and meat industry.

" Most of  our butcheries and  abattoirs have  been  found wanting in this  area ,  a lot of  unscrupulous acts of  either commission or omission which amount to corruption has engulfed our abattoirs  who necodimously involved in  illegal activities for selfish gains."

Dumbura expressed displeasure with the way livestock clearance and vet animal movement permits are being handled as some abattoirs are accepting stolen livestock.

"The  ZRP anti stock Theft Unit continues to record  its  displeasure  in  the  way livestock  clearance and  Vet Animal Movement  Permits are being  handled"

"It  is sad and  disturbing to  note that some  abattoirs and butcheries  are  accepting  stolen livestock while  the  transportation of  livestock is  being  done  without  proper  paper work clearance  procedures ."
He said the fight against stock theft should be reinforced by all stakeholders in various communities to ensure socio-economic growth targets.

"It is  against  this  background that  the  fight against  stock  theft  should  be  reinforced by the  participation of all stakeholders ,the  business community , traditional leaders  and  the  general citizenry  if  the  country is  to  realize  its socio- economic growth."

He  said some  have been  using  the passenger carrying  vehicles  to  transport meat  and  thereby  breaching Section 33 of  S.I.50/95 of the public  health regulations  which stipulates that ;vehicles or  containers used to  transport carcasses(meat) from meat houses  shall

"Have an impervious and non-corrodible lining which cannot affect the organoleptic character of the product or render it harmful to human health.

The unit has warned citizens to do away with illegal livestock and meat agents as they are not contributing to the discus saying these people are economic saboteurs and cannot be left off the hook.

In the year 2012, there were 5 500 reported stock theft cases, compared to 4 616 in 2013, translating to a 16 percent decrease.