FARMERS in southern province have called on government to address the spate of criminal activities involving cattle rustlers who have invaded the province.
Farmers in Namwala, Choma, Kalomo, Monze and Mazabuka registered their complaint to minister of agriculture in charge of livestock and fisheries, Bradford Machila, when he toured the province.
The farmers in the five districts noted that cattle rustling has become rampant, thereby posing a threat to the livestock sector.
Both commercial and small scale farmers called to state police protection for their livestock and the crime in cattle rustling has reached unprecedented levels and become a serious concern to livestock farmers.
The farmers noted that the proliferation of illegal abattoirs have also necessitated the upswing in cattle rustlings.
And responding to the plight of farmers Mr Machila noted that his ministry will soon arrange a meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs to curb cattle rustling in southern province.
Mr Machila assured the farmers that his ministry will ensure that the pieces of legislation on sentencing cattle rustlers are revisited during the forthcoming sitting of parliament to deter would-be offenders.
Mr Machila disclosed that his ministry will check abattoirs operating as cooperatives, verify the documents and deregister illegal ones that have proliferated the vice.
The minister was in Southern Province to get first hand information from farmers in the livestock sector at the invitation of the Zambia National Farmers Union president Jervis Zimba.
ZANIS/ENDS/LK/EB
Isnt there enough cattle to go around in Southern Provice?Where are the hustlers coming from.
West maybe, no am sure west they did it before
Wild, wild west. No#2 let us let CSI investigate; I do not know what it is in England; maybe Scottland Yard lol. Did not know we had bandit outlaw cowboys on the Mbala plains frontier lol.
It is very easy to reduce such crimes but we do not want to do it because some people are benefiting from such activities. The Department of Vet in MACO in conjunction with departments responsible for environmental health under councils should have been been more innovative by putting up systems which may even give them revenue. But because some of the officials from those departments are the ones who are even operating illegal abattoirs they do not see.
#3 In the UK we have Scottland yard ,but MI5 is dealing with this one becoz we all know the cowboys from the west .WISEMAN REBONE & COMPANY LTD (WEST)
Wiseman Rebone ;Kwaamba mwana ndakuyeeya , so utyani ono .
#6 Mwana bama/Mudala ……Good day Thought I should rest for a while …. With regard to the above subject I am reminded of Judge Kalima ,he dealt well with the thieving of cattle by giving tough custodial sentencing
Minimum 10 years in prison for one animal any additional animal three years for each , a very good solution. The thugs will be quarantined no more stealing……Judge Meebelo Kalima way
Too much Balang’ombe… whatever that means……
Shameful and sad situation!