POLICE officers have been warned against charging farmers for cattle clearance as the practice is not only illegal, but fuels incidences of stocktheft.
Speaking at the Midlands provincial anti-stocktheft campaign held in Gokwe, officer commanding Midlands police Commissioner Partson Nyabadza said cattle clearance was free.
“We will not tolerate any police officer who demands payment for this service,” Nyabadza said.
“This corrupt practice not only burdens the farmers, but also undermines our efforts to combat stocktheft.
“We urge anyone who has been asked to pay for cattle clearance to come forward and report. We will not hesitate to investigate and take proper action against those involved.”
Nyabadza said acts of corruption among the police force would not be tolerated and urged the community to work closely with law enforcers in dealing with stock theft.
“By working together, we can identify and address vulnerabilities, strengthen our responses and protect livelihoods,” he said.
Reports indicate that unscrupulous police officers charge between US$10 and US$20 for cattle clearance.
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Some people have also been accused of perpetrating stocktheft by bribing law enforcement agents seconded to clear cattle in their communities.
Stocktheft has been a major threat to livestock production by subsistence farmers not only in Zimbabwe, but in Africa as a whole.
