This
has
left
the
community
to
count
their
losses
while
the
criminal
syndicates
operate
with
impunity.
In
an
interview
with
CITE,
one
villager
Thuleleni
Nhliziyo
said
her
family
lost
livestock
in
September,
but
the
suspects
were
never
held
accountable.
“We
have
a
challenge
in
Ngwaladi.
On
10
September,
we
lost
two
cows
from
my
homestead
and
our
neighbour’s
cows
were
also
stolen.
We
searched
for
the
cows
and
found
the
person
who
took
them,
through
someone
else
who
was
also
looking
for
his
livestock,”
said
Nhliziyo.“The
suspect
revealed
that
the
cows
were
taken
to
Bulawayo.
The
police
were
called
and
arrested
a
suspect
called
Mguni,
who
led
them
to
Masuku,
who
also
led
them
to
someone
else
as
they
work
in
a
chain.”
However,
Nhliziyo
said
the
suspects
mysteriously
disappeared
before
trial.
“During
the
court
case,
Mguni
was
no
longer
available.
We
were
told
he
had
a
lawyer
and
was
given
another
court
date,
but
when
the
next
case
came,
both
Mguni
and
Masuku
were
no
longer
in
Gwelutshena.
We
were
later
told
Brighton
and
Themba
were
also
released,”
she
said.
She
added
that
when
villagers
ask
to
see
dockets,
details
of
the
arrests
are
often
missing.
Nhliziyo
said
such
incidents
have
become
common
in
Chief
Sikhobokhobo’s
area.
“Last
year
another
villager
lost
his
cattle,
and
when
they
went
to
court,
they
found
that
the
thief
they
had
caught
was
no
longer
in
the
cells.
These
people
are
exchanged
inside
the
cells.
We
know
each
other,
the
person
is
still
at
home,
and
we
see
them,”
she
said.
Villagers
believe
a
lack
of
accountability
at
Gwelutshena
Police
Station
has
emboldened
offenders.
“We
don’t
know
how
the
police
are
working,”
said
Nhliziyo.
“They
say
the
thieves
are
released
to
find
lawyers.
Is
this
how
the
law
works?
We
are
being
abused
while
the
thieves
are
treated
well.”
She
called
on
senior
police
authorities
to
intervene.
“We
want
the
person
in
charge
of
the
police
to
hear
our
issue
because
Gwelutshena
has
no
proper
officers.
We
have
no
complaints
about
other
crimes,
but
stock
theft
suspects
are
always
released.
The
thieves
and
the
police
are
taking
advantage
of
the
elderly
and
children,”
she
said.
Another
villager,
who
requested
anonymity,
said
cattle
stolen
from
their
community
were
later
found
in
Gomoza,
but
suspects
“disappeared”
before
facing
trial.
“The
cows
were
recovered
in
Gomoza
and
the
thieves
apprehended
as
well,
but
when
the
community
followed
up
on
the
case,
they
were
told
the
thieves
disappeared.
How
do
thieves
disappear
under
police
watch?
What
should
the
community
do
then?”
she
asked.
Country
Moyo,
from
Sivomo
and
a
member
of
the
Azibuye
Emaseleni
Community
Group
formed
to
combat
livestock
theft,
said
villagers
are
no
longer
issued
case
numbers
when
reporting
crimes.
“We
are
appealing
for
assistance
so
that
these
police
officers
can
be
changed
—
we
are
tired
of
the
current
ones,”
said
Moyo.
Last
year,
CITE
reported
how
villagers
in
Sivomo,
Nkayi, called
for
stronger
enforcement
at
police
roadblocks
to
curb
the
alarming
rise
in
stock
theft.
Read
the
full
story: https://cite.org.zw/nkayi-villagers-demand-action-as-stock-theft-crisis-escalates/
This
year
when
reached
for
comment,
Village
Head
Nkululeko
Ncube
from
Ward
8,
KoSando,
said
the
situation
has
eroded
community
trust
in
law
enforcement.
“The
thieves
even
confess
to
their
crime
and
the
stolen
livestock
will
be
there
as
exhibits.
We
take
them
to
Gwelutshena
police,
but
the
next
day
we
see
them
walking
free.
We
don’t
want
to
end
up
taking
matters
into
our
own
hands,
but
the
police
are
letting
us
down,”
said
Ncube.
He
urged
authorities
to
restore
order
and
make
sure justice
is
served.
“As
the
village
head,
I
can
confirm
this
is
happening.
We
want
those
who
commit
crimes
to
face
the
law.
These
people
confess,
they
don’t
even
deny
it.
How
can
we
live
in
peace
when
the
thieves
are
among
us?
We
are
not
happy
with
Gwelutshena
police,”
he
said.
Efforts
to
reach
Matabeleland
North
Provincial
Police
Spokesperson,
Inspector
Glory
Banda,
were
unsuccessful,
as
his
phone
was
unavailable
for
the
past
two
days.