Cattle rustlers from Zambia are allegedly crossing the border into Zimbabwe and stealing livestock from Binga villagers, taking advantage of the lack of visibility by the police.
This was said by Binga South MP Gabbuza Gabbuza (MDC Alliance) during the National Assembly’s questions with notice session last Wednesday.
Gabbuza wanted to know why there have been no arrests of “cattle rustlers from Zambia, who have been stealing livestock in Saba and Lubanda wards.”
He also demanded that Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe explain the measures “the government has instituted to curb commission of such crimes and recover the stolen livestock that have been identified across the border.”
In response, Kazembe said at the recently held Zambia-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Security and Defence (JPC) in Livingstone Zambia it was agreed that police services from the two countries would work hand in glove to combat the crime. He said:
<blockquote>
As I speak efforts are underway to address the scourge.
On arrests, I would have to find out if there are any known culprits from Zambia that our police officers have failed to arrest after receiving information on stock theft.
It could be an issue of lack of information resulting in no arrests being done.
But as a country, whoever is involved in such acts, whether locals or foreigners, the law will take its course.
</blockquote>
Kazembe said his ministry was in the process of giving police officers patrol vehicles and other electronic gadgets like drones to fight crime. He added:
<blockquote>
We have started with Matabeleland South where to date we have established police bases in known areas that these livestock rustlers use when crossing into or outside Zimbabwe.
I would also like to engage you the honourable member together with the commissioner general of police to identify strategic places where we can establish police bases to patrol the affected areas of Saba and Lubanda.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://vicfallslive.co.zw/index.php/2022/11/05/zambian-cross-border-rustlers-terrorise-binga-villagers/">VicFallsLive</a>

Pindula News

Zambian Cattle Rustlers Terrorise Binga Villagers

Five cattle rustlers have been sentenced to a combined 135 years in prison for stealing five head of cattle from Irisvale in Umzingwane District, <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/135-years-imprisonment-for-stealing-cattle/">Chronicle</a> reported.
The accused are Clifford Charm Kunene (34), Samuel Mathe (30), Gretta Ngwenya (42), and Njabulo Khanye (29) from Bulawayo and Gift Phiri (42) from Gwanda.
They pleaded not guilty to two counts of stock theft when they appeared before the Esigodini magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda who convicted them due to overwhelming evidence.
They were each sentenced to 27 years imprisonment of which nine years were suspended on each sentence on the condition that they do not commit a similar offence within the next five years. 
Five years were further suspended on the condition that they pay US$900 restitution to the complainant.
<h2>Allegations:</h2>
Prosecutor, Mr Vhusani Moyo told the court that the gang first stole three cattle from the area in May and fled. 
In June, they went back to the same area where they stole five beasts.
Village anti-stock theft committee members intercepted the thieves as they were intending to transport the carcasses of the stolen animals in a Mazda Titan vehicle.
Villagers who had seen the vehicle in the area laid an ambush by blocking the path of the car with stones. He said the accused persons disembarked from the car and fled on foot.
Villagers gave chase and apprehended Clifford Charm Kunene while his accomplices fled. The matter was reported to the police and Kunene implicated his accomplices. The five carcases were recovered.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Five Cattle Rustlers Sentenced To A Combined 135 Years In Prison

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has announced the arrest of a Gokwe man after he was found in possession of raw ivory weighing over 7kgs. 
Police said Byron Gopoza had no authority to possess ivory. Reads the police statement seen by Pindula News:
<blockquote>
On 12/08/22, Police in Gokwe arrested Byron Gopoza (40) after he was found in possession of raw ivory without a permit at Mutibvuli shops, Siamuchembu. Police recovered one elephant tusk weighing 7,163 kgs from the suspect.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, two men were arrested on Saturday 13 August 2022 for stock theft. ZRP said in a statement:
<blockquote>
On 13/08/22, ZRP Support Unit members deployed at Mahenye Police base arrested Lincoln Biya (34) and Witness Biya (29) in connection with a case of stock theft in which they allegedly stole 16 beasts at Mutsvuka Village grazing lands. Police have since recovered eight of the beasts, which the suspects had already sold.
</blockquote>
Still, under crime and courts, police are investigating circumstances surrounding a murder case in which the body of a 36-year-old man was found lying in a swampy area at Brent Farm, Marondera, on 11/08/22. 
The body had a cut on the left eye and whip marks on the buttocks and thighs. 
ZRP is appealing to members of the public who may have information on the case to contact any nearest Police station.
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Man Arrested For Unauthorised Possession Of Raw Ivory

A 38-year-old serial cattle rustler from Mashonaland Central was sentenced to 63 years in jail after he was convicted by a Bindura magistrate.
Dzingai Kambanje of Marine village, Madziva pleaded guilty to seven counts of stock theft when he appeared before Bindura magistrate Samantha Dhlamini.
<a href="https://thestandard.newsday.co.zw/2022/08/14/cattle-rustler-jailed-63-years/">The Standard</a> reports that Kambanje will, however, serve 27 years as the remaining years are running concurrently.
Prosecutor Shiella Kudzai Maribha told the court that from March to August this year the convict stole 16 bovines from different kraals, and sold them to butchery dealers.
Stock thieves recently pounced on Masvingo province, especially in Bikita, Mwenezi and Gutu where <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/07/04/cattle-rustlers-hit-on-gutu-masvingo-farmers/">they stole hundreds of cattle</a>, with some reportedly working in alliance with corrupt police officers.
Cattle rustling is widespread that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was early this year forced to establish an inter-ministerial committee to tackle cross-border cattle rustling along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border.
There were reports that the thieves were stealing as far as Botswana. 
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Theft Latest News

Latest Jobs