Four detained in Mozambique for cross-border theft of livestock

Mozambican police have arrested four suspects of stealing cattle from Eswatini, in the latter case to undermine cross-border security in southern Mozambique, the corporation said on Monday.

“Nine cattle were slaughtered in the mountains last week” in the border region of Namaacha, Maputo province, and an investigation led to the arrest of “four involved,” said Juárez Martins, head of public relations for the province.

“There is connivance from cattle rustlers” on both sides of the border, he added.

The warning has already been issued by community leaders, including Namaachi head Filimon Machalela.

“We want to fight this crime together and we have contacted the authorities” to restore peace to the population on both sides of the border, he told Rádio Moçambique.

In the first quarter of this year alone, the provincial government recorded the theft of 117 cattle, most of which were confiscated, with the Namaacha area being the most frequent crime.

Agriculture and animal husbandry are the main source of livelihood in the region, but the porous borders encourage cross-border crime.

“We are tightening the siege,” Juarez Martins said, stressing the need for joint meetings with neighboring countries to work out measures.

In addition to cattle, vehicle thefts also worried the population.

In recent months, South African communities in KwaZulu-Natal have set fire to 14 Mozambican vehicles traveling between Duban and Maputo in response to a spate of car thefts.

Communities close to the border complain that stolen cars are taken to Mozambican territory, where they lose track and leave crimes unpunished.

Police in both countries have stepped up surveillance and patrols, but carriers told Lusa last week that they continue to take longer routes to avoid attacked areas.