EMPTY KRAALS: ESWATINI FARMERS' FEAR AS LIVESTOCK THEFT SPIRALS

MHLAMBANYATSI - The relentless theft of livestock has become a crippling plight on the lives of emaSwati residing under Mhlambanyatsi Inkhundla and its surrounding areas, stripping them of their wealth and jeopardising their livelihoods.

To illustrate the alarming surge in livestock theft, police reports now routinely document farmers’ devastated accounts of finding their kraals emptied overnight.

For many emaSwati, livestock is far more than just animals; it’s a vital part of their agricultural system, providing milk, meat and manure, as well as serving as a crucial financial asset for school fees, lobola, and other essential expenses. However, these thefts have decimated their reserves, leaving numerous farmers in a desperate situation.

In an interview following a recent stakeholder meeting, local farmer Elvis Mgabhi expressed the deep-seated frustration felt within the community, where many are still reeling from the repercussions of livestock theft, particularly incidents where animals are stolen from kraals under the cover of darkness.

Average

“On average, each homestead has lost around 25 to 26 cattle in places such as Mantabeni, Siphocosini, Motshane, Sigangeni, Ezulwini, Phondo, Mangcongco, LaMgabhi, Bhunya and many others. “The unfortunate reality is that most of these stolen cattle have not been recovered, as they are sold at auctions in South Africa,” he lamented.

Mgabhi highlighted the desolate state of some cattle byres, stating: “Some cattle byres have overgrown vegetation because there are no livestock inside.” He further noted that some of the criminals involved in livestock smuggling are local residents, who transport stolen animals to South Africa and then return to the community.

A climate of fear has gripped the area, with many residents hesitant to speak out against criminal activities. “Once you are vocal, you become the first target. The criminals ensure they monitor your movements so that they can steal from you. Many people are scared to discuss criminal activities for fear of losing their remaining livestock,” he explained.

He said investigations conducted by local farmers indicate that stolen livestock are often hidden in secret kraals within nearby border forests.

Perpetrators

Alarmingly, Mgabhi shared that perpetrators dehorn the animals to erase their original identity before shipping them to farms controlled by armed criminals in an area known as Ndonga.

He said at Ndonga, stolen livestock are sold to local residents who then brand the animals, complicating efforts for farmers to reclaim their property. “You can positively identify your cow at Ndonga, but you cannot claim it back as your description in your police statement will clash with the new identity after dehorning and branding. There’s nothing more tragic than seeing your livestock, but having no way to claim it back,” Mgabhi lamented.

He also pointed out that delayed police responses to theft incidents, primarily due to a lack of transport and fuel, further jeopardise efforts to combat the crime. “We hope that now our concerns have been raised at the national level, government would prioritise providing transport for quick responses to stock theft,” he stated.

Moreover, Mgabhi urged government and stakeholders to consider relocating livestock impoundment centres closer to tinkhundla centres, citing the high costs associated with transporting livestock from the quarantine at Maphiveni after retrieval from South Africa. “While we appreciate that livestock must be quarantined for disease assessments under the Animal and Disease Control Act, the costs incurred by farmers to transport livestock from Maphiveni to Mhlambanyatsi are too high,” he said.

Assessment

He also called on government to reduce assessment and courier fees, referencing his own experience of being charged E1 400 per cow for assessment, coupled with the transportation costs back to Mhlambanyatsi. Additionally, he raised concerns about the inadequate food available for livestock at the impoundment centres, leading to hunger-related infections among animals.

The farmers received a positive response from Minister for Tinkhundla Administration and Development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini who represented the Minister for Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, at the event. Dlamini pledged to relay the concerns to the minister and encouraged farmers to utilise the Regional Development Fund for establishing livestock impoundments closer to tinkhundla centres. He said his attendance at the meeting afforded him the opportunity to gather first-hand information that could assist Cabinet, which has taken the issue of stock theft seriously.

He assured the community that he would present their concerns to Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, who has recently initiated a task team focused on tackling stock theft in the country.

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