Livestock theft takes a toll on targeted farmers in Namaacha

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Livestock theft takes a toll on targeted farmers in Namaacha

8:42 CAT | 24 Feb 2022

Photo: O País

Cattle ranchers are concerned about the resurgence of theft of animals from corrals in Namaacha district, Maputo province.

Rabia Gulamudine has been raising cattle for over 20 years. From November of last year to date, 26 animals have been stolen from his corral. The most recent case was on February 9th, when 18 head were stolen in one raid.

Edilson Chimbomane and Alifo Suleimane are the two cattlemen responsible for grazing and guarding the cattle and recount how the cattle were stolen and where they ended up finding them.

“Here they steal cattle, they steal a lot. For us to get back our cattle costs us a lot. We had to spend nights in the bush; we chased them from morning to night without eating anything,” said one of the pair. “We caught all of this full of blood; a car was here: it loaded with the meat of our animals,” the other added.

Of the 18 animals stolen in February, 15 were not found. Two calves were recovered, and one has vanished.

The owner of the animals is extremely upset with the situation.

“I ask for justice to be done, for my livestock to be replaced. I have been raising these cattle for 28 years, as you can see in the documents I have here”.

Two cattle herders who worked on the farm where the cattle were slaughtered are on the run, and the other one, who still works there, confirmed the culpability of his former colleagues. “I’d been working here for two weeks; I know they stole and killed those animals,” newly hired herder Ricardo Mahot says.

The atmosphere is tense in Mafuiane, with accusations of various kinds flying about.

Everything got worse when the local chief said he didn’t know what was happening in the area he leads.

The police and SERNIC say they did their job, which was to detain one of the owners of the farm and draw up the respective records, but, soon after, the accused was released by the Prosecutor’s Office, rendering Rabia indignant.

“Does the law protect some and not others? I think we are all Mozambican citizens and we have the same rights,” he said.

Contacted by telephone by ‘O País’, one of the owners of the farm said he did not know about the matter, but confirmed that workers hired to guard and herd the cattle were involved in illicit activities, adding that he was available to provide further clarification, and would collaborate with the police authorities.

By Amandio Borges

Source: O País