More than 23 000 livestock stolen in two years

Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo said the police recorded 23 791 stolen livestock between May 2021 and April 2023.

Shikongo said this during a stakeholder engagement meeting with the police, the Namibia Agricultural Union and the Emerging Commercial Farmers’ Union in Windhoek yesterday.

The engagement was aimed at addressing crimes that affect the farming community countrywide by promoting and implementing the rural safety strategy in Namibia aimed at attaining effective joint crime combating efforts.

During his presentation, Shikongo said between May 2021 and May 2022, more than 2 400 cases of stock theft were reported.

“Out of the 2 403 cases, 10 984 big and small livestock were stolen. The combined value of stolen livestock amounted to N$68,7 million,” Shikongo said. He added that 4 647 livestock valued at N$14,8 million were recovered and 2 112 suspects were arrested in connection with stock theft.

During the same period, the police noted that Otjiwarongo in Otjozondjupa region recorded the highest cases of stock theft at 534 cases. Omaheke region recorded 321 cases, Kunene (273), Omusati (221) and Ohangwena (201). “Moreover, our records show that between the period of June 2022 and April 2023, a total of 2 681 cases of stock theft were reported countrywide,” Shikongo said.

He added that 12 807 livestock valued at N$54,2 million were stolen over the same period.

“In addition, a total of 4 285 livestock valued at N$26,9 million were recovered,” Shikongo said. According to Shikongo, Otjozondjupa region also topped the list after recording a total of 465 cases, Hardap recorded 323 cases, Omaheke recorded 304 cases while Oshikoto recorded 222 cases. “I need to state it and make it categorically clear that the Namibian Police Force will not tolerate criminal behaviours,” Shikongo warned.

He said police management have taken note of the increase in stock theft, especially in the regions with the highest cases of stock theft. “Hence, we will support all efforts by the farmers’ unions, associations and individuals to combat stock theft,” he said.

Shikongo said manning road traffic checkpoints in the country is one of the key operations geared towards combating crime, particularly stock theft.

He stressed the importance of “entering information on stock theft into databases to find a connection between various cases to assist law enforcement agencies and the justice system to create profiles of criminals”. He said there is a need to fast-track the e-policing system together with the correctional service and courts. On the same day, the Namibia Agricultural Union donated N$50 000 to the police anti-stock theft unit.

The police signed a memorandum of understanding with the Namibia Agricultural Union and the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union in March 2020.