Ubumbano Voice Read More
By Mduduzi Mabuza
Mpolonjeni-People of Mpolonjeni few kilometres from Mbabane the capital city of Swaziland are worried about the cow theft in their community.
According to Sibusiso Mwelase who is also a victim of this, the stealers use the night hours. They come and steal from their kraal while they are asleep.
In an interview with Sibusiso Mwelase he mentioned that he advertises that he was selling one his cows which was ready for slaughter. One of the butchery owner came to enquire about the cow as a person who will come to buy. In the same week people invade his kraal. He heard dogs barking he came out the people ran away and left his cow tied. Few weeks before they stole 5 cows from his neighbouring homestead.
It is suspected that Butchery owner send people to invade the kraal over night and steal the cows. Some of the stealers allegedly work with people from neighbouring countries where they traffic cows using informal crossings.
When the cows crossed to the neighbouring countries, it is not easy to claim back your cows. There security forces of Swaziland and the other countries have no memorund of Agreement on extradition of stolen cows.
The voluntarily community police are not able to work in the night hours since they have no weapons for self defence and the thugs are suspected to carry dangerous weapons.
Swazi people respect their cows since they call call it a traditional bank. Most farmers use the cows to pay Lobola for their loved ones.Some sell their cows to feed their families and pay school fees for their children.
Mwelase prays that government interven in this situation and help them as farmers.
Livestock owners should at all times report all livestock theft cases on their property immediately. The longer the delay, the less the possibility of achieving success in an investigation.It is advised that farmers must have numbers for police officers to report.
