Villagers unite against Zambian cattle thieves
Victor Sibanda
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – Residents of Mukonda village, located approximately 70 kilometers from Victoria Falls City, are banding together to combat a surge in cattle theft perpetrated by Zambian nationals. The brazen thefts have left villagers impoverished and spurred the formation of community watch committees to deter the daring criminals.
Itai Ngwenya, a villager from Mukonda, recounted a harrowing incident where armed men from Zambia confronted him and fellow cattle herders. The assailants threatened the villagers with violence before seizing seven heads of cattle and fleeing across the Zambezi River into Zambia.
“It was a terrifying experience,” Ngwenya shared. “The armed men surrounded us and demanded we surrender our cattle. We were helpless as they rounded up the animals and drove them towards the river.”
The incident prompted villagers to establish watch committees to work in conjunction with local police. Mukonda, Lumbora, and Sidinda villages have been particularly vulnerable to the cattle thieves, who often target herds grazing near the Zambezi River.
Village head, Themba Ncube, expressed deep concern over the ongoing thefts. “To date, nineteen heads of cattle have been stolen from my area. In September alone, four were stolen from Mukonda and three from Lumbora. As a community, we have formed watch committees to deter the thieves and alert the police.”
The villagers face significant challenges in combating the thieves, as many are armed with rifles.
Similo Dube, a villager from Lumbora, lost five cattle to the rustlers. “We are closer to the Zambezi River, and herders take their cattle to the banks where there is adequate pasture. The thieves prey on them and quickly force the animals into the water, swimming behind them and clinging to their tails,” Dube explained.
Acting Jambezi Chief, Chief Tremendous Neluswi, confirmed the prevalence of cattle theft involving Zambian nationals. He emphasized the importance of community vigilance and cooperation with the police.
While the Matabeleland North Police Spokesperson, Superintendent Glory Banda, was unable to provide specific details regarding stock theft incidents in Jambezi, Sergeant Namatirai Mashona, the acting spokesperson, promised to follow up with an update.
