South African and Zimbabwean farmers living in areas along the Limpopo River have formed a joint anti-stock-theft committee to fight organized cross-border stock-theft activities.

The vice-chairperson of the Ipfi Lavho Ramadanga (The Voice of Farmers) committee, Mr Frank Nguluvhe, told Mirror that the move to form the 20-member committee was necessitated by a sharp increase in cross-border stock-theft activities occurring along the Madimbo and Sengwe Corridors. The committee is chaired by Mr Sunday Mpofu of the Masisi Forum.

“We formed a joint anti-stock-theft committee with our South African counterparts to curb the rampant theft of our cattle, donkeys and goats. Of late, there has been an increase in stock-theft activities between Zimbabwe and South Africa. As villagers staying along the border, we continue to lose most of our livestock, especially cattle, which are being stolen by our own people, who then smuggle them to South Africa, where they sell them," he said.

Nguluvhe, who is also a cattle breeder from the Tshitulipasi area in the Beit Bridge District, appealed to both the Zimbabwean and South African authorities to help villagers in the fight against cross-border cattle rustling. “The stolen animals are smuggled between the two countries, while others find their way to Mozambique through the Sengwe Corridor. We have since established that the syndicate works with South Africans, who also steal cattle in their country,” he said.

Nguluvhe said a local farmer from Tshitulipasi had already lost 21 heads of cattle and the animals were believed to have been smuggled to either Mozambique or South Africa. In South Africa, the syndicate is particularly active in the Tshenzhelani, Masisi and Sigonde areas along the Limpopo River near the Kruger National Park, while in Zimbabwe the areas most affected include Tshikwalakwala, Tshitulipasi, Tshipise and surrounding areas.

“Recently, our South African counterparts assisted us in recovering 11 stolen cattle, which had been smuggled into their country. This is a clear sign that our anti-stock-theft committee´s activities are bearing fruits,” he said. The farmers have opened several cases of stock theft in their respective countries and are appealing to their communities to expose livestock thieves.

“We appeal to the community to expose criminals who steal our livestock, even if they are your own children, as what they are doing is against the law," Nguluvhe said.

Another farmer, Farisani Ndou from Tshitulipasi, said he had been losing cattle to stock thieves since 1993, while Mr Solly Dima, also from the same village, claimed that he had lost ten heads of cattle in January alone.

“We now have an arrangement with South African soldiers and they have offered to help us drive our cattle back when stray into their territory, unlike in the past, when they would shoot them,” he said.

Cattle ranching is the main economic activity for villagers in the Beit Bridge District.