Police officer remanded in cattle rustling scandal

A 37-year-old Zvishavane police officer, Kudakwashe Chigwa, has been remanded in custody until December 3 over allegations of involvement in a cattle rustling operation in Fort Rixon. Chigwa faces charges of stock theft and criminal abuse of office.
Alleged Crime

Court documents reveal that on October 13, police received a tip-off about a villager, Ishmael Sibanda, who was reportedly slaughtering cattle at his Mvurachena Village homestead without proper clearance. Upon investigation, it was alleged that Chigwa, in connivance with Sibanda and another suspect, Justin Zijena, had stolen four cattle belonging to local farmer Oliver Chiropa, which were then slaughtered.

Chigwa reportedly cleared the livestock while dressed in civilian attire, identifying himself as a Zvishavane police officer. Chiropa positively identified four hides and two cattle heads as belonging to his herd.
Irregularities in Cattle Clearance

Investigations revealed that Chigwa had not followed proper procedures as he lacked the necessary permits to clear cattle in Fort Rixon, an area outside his jurisdiction. He also operated in civilian attire, raising suspicions about his authority. He also allegedly tampered with a ZRP Zvishavane 392 Book 75/24, removing official copies of clearance records to conceal the transactions.

Chigwa's failure to provide satisfactory answers about these irregularities led to his arrest.
Links to Larger Rustling Syndicate

Chigwa's arrest comes amid a broader investigation into cattle rustling in the region. Authorities recently apprehended a nine-member gang accused of stealing and slaughtering 28 cattle from a local farmer in Fort Rixon in August.

The gang members, who appeared in court earlier, includes Ishmael Sibanda (31) of Mvurachena C Village, Fort Rixon, Justin Zijena (48) of Mandava, Zvishavane, Josphat Makuvaza (48) of Tatenda Village, Fort Rixon, Piraishe Mandende (35) of Lambamai, Fort Rixon, Peter Tiziri (44) of Gwamanyanga Village, Fort Rixon, Trust Ndlovu (34) of Mkiweni A, Fort Rixon, Justice Zhou (35) of Mvurachena C Village, Fort Rixon, and Sabelo Moyo of Mxotshwa Village, Zvishavane.

Authorities recovered five skinned carcasses, two cattle heads, and 26 hides during the investigation.
Rising Incidents of Stock Theft

Fort Rixon has become a hotspot for cattle rustling, with rustlers targeting rural areas near major cities like Bulawayo, where stolen meat finds ready markets. In a related case, police arrested Bhekilizwe Nyathi, who is believed to be part of a gang that stole five cattle in the same area, attempting to smuggle the carcasses to a butchery in Bulawayo's Magwegwe suburb. Separately, a 71-year-old woman, Sithabile Ngwenya from Ntabazinduna in Umguza District, appeared in court for allegedly stealing 20 cattle valued at over US$16,000 in three incidents.

Anti-Rustling Measures

In response to the surge in cattle theft, authorities are forming community-based anti-rustling groups and increasing patrols in vulnerable rural areas. Law enforcement officials have also intensified investigations to dismantle criminal networks involved in livestock theft.

The arrest of a law enforcement officer in connection with these crimes has raised concerns about corruption within the system and the need for stricter oversight.