Mutare Police looking for 265 stock thieves

MARTIN MULEYA
CHIPINGE TIMES CORRESPONDENT

MUTARE – The Zimbabwe Republic Police in Manicaland is looking for 265 stock theft suspects, Chipinge Times has been told.
Speaking at an anti-stock theft campaign on Tuesday, the Officer Commanding Manicaland, Commissioner Priscilla Makotose said her organisation has 265 people wanted for stock theft and she will soon be releasing the names to traditional leaders so that they can help with information.
From the statistics given, it is shocking that 227 or 85, 6% of the wanted stock thieves are from Chipinge District. Buhera and Rusape districts have seven suspects only while Mutare Rural District has 24 wanted persons and the remaining seven are from Nyanga.
Makotose implored traditional leaders in the province to assist the Police in bringing the culprits to book.
“Police appeal for traditional leaders’ assistance to bring these wanted people to book. We have compiled a list which will be handed over to our chiefs because they are strategically positioned to get information on the wanted persons as most of these are their subjects,” she said.
Police arrested 75 suspects between January and June 2022. This is lower than the 98 wanted stock thieves arrested during the same period in 2021.
Police also has reports of stray cattle. Makotose warned members of the public against taking stray cattle into their ownership as this is an offence.