Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The Namibian Police recorded that the theft of livestock has robbed Namibian farmers of N$123 008 655.
This Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo yesterday during the stakeholder engagement between NamPol, the Namibian Agriculture Union and Namibia Emerging Farmers Union said that 23 791 livestock animals were stolen in seven regions between May 2021 and April 2023.
According to the statistics, the Otjozondjupa Region recorded 1 008, Omaheke 625, Kunene 273, Omusati 462 and Ohangwena 201, Oshikoto 222 and Hardap recorded 323 cases of stock theft during the same period
“Our criminal record shows that between May 2021 and May 2022, a total of 2 403 cases of stock theft were reported. Out of the aforementioned cases, a total of 10 984 big and small livestock animals were stolen. The total combined value of stolen livestock amounted to N$68 798 661. Our records show that between the period of June 2022 to April 2023, 2 6 81 cases of stock theft were reported countrywide,” he said.
In addition, the General said, a total of 4 647 big and small livestock, valued at N$14 872 177 were recovered between May 2021 and May 2022, whereas a total of 4 285 big and small livestock, valued at N$26 924 797 were recovered between June 2022 and April this year.
Shikongo stated that a total of 2 112 suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.
Shikongo said the significance of entering data on stock theft into a database to find a connection between different cases, would help law enforcement agencies create profiles of the culprits.
“I must indicate that the manning of Road Traffic Checkpoints in the country, is one of the key areas of interest geared towards combating crime, particularly stock theft, through intensifying joint crime prevention operations. Hence the importance of entering information on stock theft into a database to find a connection between various cases. This would assist law enforcement agencies and the justice system to create profiles of criminals. Therefore, there is a need to fast track the link of the e-Policing system together with Correctional; Services and Courts,” he said.
Omusati Regional Governor Erginus Endjala said the lack of grazing areas in the region as a result of the drought has contributed to an increase in stock theft cases.
“There are two factors that one needs to note when it comes to stock theft in our region. The concentration of the grazing area in the Omusati Region is mostly only from Ongandjera, Uukwaludhi and Uukolongadhi areas and the method that most people use is to allow animals to graze on their own without any supervision. Some of these animals fall prey to thieves. It is also because of our drought situation in the region,” he said.
He added that some people have opted to graze their animals in Angola.
“Another factor is that we are bordering Angola and there is no fence between the countries. It makes it very easy to steal anything from Namibia and take it into Angola, which is currently the biggest challenge. The stock theft syndicate has become so sophisticated and more difficult to control as the thieves now kill the animals and only take the meat,” added Endjala.
