Criminals be warned - Zimbabwean and South African farmers have come together and formed an association that is going to help them stop their tracks.

The farmers, Anti- Stock theft Zimbabwe and Anti-Stock Theft Tshenzhelani, met and formed the association three years back in their attempt to stop the disturbing trend of stock theft from both countries and the relationship is starting to bear fruits.

According to Mr Frank Mutete Nguluvhe (83), from Tshitulipasi Number 10 in Zimbabwe, the idea of forming an association came after high incidents of theft of goats, donkeys, and cattle in their area. “Most of our stock were stolen by our own countrymen, who took them to South Africa where they sold them at a very cheap price.

“We later learnt that this was a syndicate that also worked with South Africans who stole stock from their country and handed them to their Zimbabweans friends, who also sold them here,” says Nguluvhe.

From the South African side, Nguluvhe says the syndicate operated in the areas of Tshenzhelani, Masisi and Sigonde, towards the Kruger National Park, just near the Limpopo River between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Nguluvhe says their stock was also taken to Mozambique by the same syndicate.

The association between the two parts helped in recovering stolen stock in their country and helped in returning them to their owners in their country.

Since the association was formed, a number of cattle have been retrieved and this week, on Wednesday, two cattle were recovered from the South African side. Last month, on June 13, seven cattle were also recovered.

Sunday Mpofu, chairperson of Masisi Live Stock forum, said they identified cattle from Zimbabwe by the V -mark on their bodies. Nguluvhe also says they identified cattle from South Africa because they did not have a V-mark on their bodies.

The two parties are appealing to community members to help them fight against stock theft by exposing the culprits. “We appeal to the community to expose criminals who steal our stock, even if they are your own children, because what they are doing is against the law. They are also harming our business," says Nguluvhe.

Mr Farisani Ndou ( 61) says he has been losing cattle to stock theft since 1993 and Mr Solly Dima ( 50), from Tshitulipasi says he lost 11 cattle last year only. “I am left with only 20 cattle because of this syndicate,” says Dima.