VILLAGERS in Bocha, Manicaland, are reeling from a stock theft surge, losing vital lifelines,
In the rural community, cattle and goats are more than livestock—they are lifelines. They pay school fees, provide draught power, supply milk and meat, and serve as a store of wealth in times of hardship.
Villagers told the Daily News at the weekend that rustlers have grown increasingly brazen, now slaughtering cattle just a few metres from kraals under the cover of darkness, carrying away meat and leaving carcasses behind.
Eighty-three-year-old retired prison officer Gilford Mutsago is among the hardest hit.
Narrating his ordeal with tears in his eyes, he said the attacks have come in waves.
“At first, I lost two beasts. I reported the case at Bambazonge Police Station and nothing was recovered,” he said. “And today they hit me again. They came and slaughtered seven goats, and among them four were pregnant. I don’t know what is going to happen to me next. Only God knows.”
Another villager across the road reportedly lost 13 goats in a single night. Residents allege that reporting cases has become a mere formality, claiming they rarely receive updates or recover stolen livestock.
Some now suspect that rustlers may be operating with information from within the community.
“We are appealing to the highest office in the police force in Manicaland province to consider the gravity of our problem and dispatch a serious team for serious investigations,” said Tapiwa Mutanga, one of the villagers. “Our local police are giving us no help. Reporting a case is just a formality and it’s now normal that we shouldn’t expect any updates or recoveries from them.”
Villagers warn that the situation is spiralling out of control and threatens livelihoods in an already fragile rural economy.
“Our village is burning. We humbly appeal for urgent assistance,” one of the villagers said.
Responding to the issue, Manicaland police spokesperson Wiseman Chinyoka said the police have been conducting regular awareness campaigns to curb stock theft in the area.
“We carried out intensive awareness campaigns throughout 2024 when we recorded a surge in cattle theft cases. We also established village anti-stock theft committees as part of efforts to combat the scourge.
However, since last year, we have not recorded another surge in the area. We will nevertheless look into the matter,” he said.
TAPIWA CHIRUME
