Livestock farmers at Eunda Village in the Omusati Region and the Angolan Consul General held a meeting to discuss the growing cases of stock theft in the area.
Farmers have reported an alarming increase in cases of livestock being stolen and driven across the border into Angola's Cunene Province, where they are sold.
They are unhappy about the continuous loss of their livestock and called for cooperation between Namibia and Angola, including the establishment of effective cross-border collaboration.
Penda Mongudhi, a farmer in the village, shared the concerns of the farmers, adding that "We as farmers here in this area, the boundaries of Uukolonkadhi, are gravely disturbed by the stock theft that is currently going on, and it has impacted the farmers and the local community economically in the sense that most of the entire amount of their livestock has been stolen. This has actually gravely affected their livelihood."
Another farmer, Erastus Awino, also shared the same sentiments. "I am a member of the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority in charge of the district called Uukwanaanga. This district is one of those close to the Angolan border, and we experience a lot of livestock theft. Animals are normally being stolen from my district and as far as other districts, and they are driven towards Angola."
The Chairperson of Uukolonkadhi Subsistence Farmers, John Shimbilinga, called on the government to help them facilitate entry into Angola to search for the stolen animals.
They further want assistance to debush the borderlines to spot criminals easily.
He further called on the police to set up a temporary base at the border to patrol.
"We have a lot of challenges in Omusati, and specifically in the Uukolonkadhi area, when it comes to stock theft. Farmers are crying each and every day; cattle and goats are stolen, mostly going to Angola and to Cunene in the Kaoko area. We have at least engaged the Angolan government, the headman from Cunene, the office of the Governor in the Omusati Region, and the office of the regional commander. To that end we did not yet receive a successful answer," said John Shimbilinga, chairperson of the Uukolonkadhi Subsistence Farmers.
Omusati Police Commander Ismael Basson said stock theft is one of their concerns, and the porous border makes it hard to control the movement of animals.
From January to date, 88 cases of missing livestock were reported in Omusati, with 358 animals stolen and 160 recovered. 36 Namibians and ten Angolans were arrested.