Theft of stock in Botswana is escalating, particularly at areas situated along the borders, the periphery of the cities and towns. The most vulnerable stock is being cattle, goats and donkeys.

Livestock farming in Botswana contributes enormously to the social and economic life of this nation, hence should be preserved at all costs. The phenomenon of stock theft as implied above is mostly organized with syndicates smuggling live animals and their produce into cities and towns for slaughter and illegal sales respectively.

In the same vein, criminal’s syndicates collude with butchery owners in cities, towns and villages to circumvent council bye-laws to kill animals not acquired at public sales.

Theft of stock can be committed in many different ways. The clandestine include:

·         Stealing of young ones – The culprits steal calves; by killing the cows to destroy evidence. The calves are thereby brought up and when they reach maturity stage they are branded and ear marked.

·         Indiscriminating branding – Branding of stock by herd boys during the absence of owners has generated stock theft cases. Some owners identify and direct herd boys to brand cattle which they know are not lawfully owned but when the case arises they plead ignorance.

·         Slaughtering stock to sell to butchery owners - Most often offenders steal and slaughter cattle to sell to butchery owners to get fast cash for their survival. In most cases butchery owners connive with perpetrators

·         Slaughtering for consumption - Offenders in several parts of the country steal and slaughter cattle for consumption. They usually steal stock from their surroundings or neigbouring places.

·         over branding - offenders deface the original brand by applying certain techniques. The animal is then branded with his or her own brand.