Large scale cattle theft, slaughter leave Outjo farmers reeling

The Namibian Police are investigating a large-scale cattle theft and slaughter incident in the Outjo district, where more than 60 head of cattle were stolen from multiple farms.

The incident has prompted significant concern among local farmers, who are calling for increased measures to combat stock theft in the region.

The Kunene region’s head of community affairs, chief inspector Vehangaiza Hindjou, confirmed the incident, saying a local farmer and his employees on Thursday traced the tracks of missing cattle and discovered a scene on another farm where over 30 cattle had been slaughtered.

The suspects fled once they realised they had been caught in the act.

They had removed the ear tags of the slaughtered animals. Some cattle were found alive, but severely injured, with cuts on their legs and their hooves removed.

The farmer and his employees then found the carcasses of at least 30 more cattle elsewhere on the same farm. “It is suspected that the cattle belong to different owners from surrounding farms. No case is opened so far, but police investigations continue,” Hindjou said.

One affected farmer, who asked to remain anonymous, said he lost 18 cows in the mass slaughter.

“This is the ugly face of greed. This is not hunger,” he states. He emphasises the urgent need for government action, pleading for a state of emergency to be declared on stock theft. “I don’t think the government grasps the gravity of this situation. Many farmers have stopped reporting theft cases as they remain unsolved for years, and the offenders are later released on bail,” the farmer says.

The farmer further calls for increased government support for the police, including the deployment of the Namibian Defence Force to combat stock theft nationwide.

“The government should do more as the police alone cannot solve the problem,” he says.