Sunday Mail Reporter

More than 1 100 people were arrested while seven abattoirs, 148 butcheries and 110 food outlets were shut down under a countrywide police anti-stock theft operation code-named “Nyama Waiwanepi/Inyama Uyithethe Ngaphi” that also recorded US$21 000 in fines.

National anti-stocktheft co-ordinator Assistant Commissioner Bernard Dumbura said the operation, which also saw 69 cattle being recovered and 832kg of meat being destroyed, was a success.

“We have wrapped up Operation Nyama Waiwanepi/Inyama Uyithethe Ngaphi and have arrested 44 cattle rustlers and 1 029 others involved in stocktheft and other related activities,” he said.

He said some of those arrested were charged with animal brutality, violating the Public Health Act and aiding stocktheft.
“We also condemned 13 butcheries that were operating in unhealthy environments. Some of the butcheries, food outlets and abattoirs were closed after their operators failed to produce medical certificates.

“In some instances, the proprietors were found with meat whose origins they could not explain.”
Asst Comm Dumbura expressed concern over the emergence of businesspeople who provided cattle rustlers a ready market.
“Most of the cattle rustlers are middlemen used by butcheries and food outlets to source meat,” he said.