Moeti Mohwasa, the Minister for State President, Defence and Security, has revealed that 350 cattle were rustled from Botswana into Zambia via Namibia between 2022 and 2025. The thefts occurred along the border covering the Okavango East constituency.
Answering a question in Parliament, Mohwasa stated that intelligence reports and recent arrests indicate foreign nationals are primarily responsible for these cross-border crimes.
Of the stolen livestock, 83 cattle were recovered. Owners identified 82 of these animals, which were eventually auctioned in Zambia following the conclusion of legal proceedings. One remaining animal is currently held at the Omega 1 Police Station in Zambia awaiting identification.
Regarding legal action, Mohwasa noted that nine suspects were arrested in connection with the 83 recovered cattle. Eight of the culprits were prosecuted and found guilty, while one was released due to insufficient evidence.
“To ensure national security and the protection of property in the area, both the Botswana Police Service and the Botswana Defence Force conduct border patrols on a regular basis,” the Minister said.
He emphasized that strengthening cooperation between law enforcement and border communities is a key strategy in combating cross-border crime. To this end, Police Chiefs from Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Angola will meet in Kasane from February 24th to 26th, 2026, to deliberate on regional security strategies.
Addressing victim support, Mohwasa clarified that the government has no policy to compensate victims of stock theft. He noted that victims were instead given the option to sell their recovered cattle in Zambia after their cases were finalised.
The Minister’s remarks followed an inquiry by the Member of Parliament for Okavango East, Gabatsholwe Disho. MP Disho had requested an update on the scale of cattle rustling over the past four years and sought clarity on whether the perpetrators were local criminals or foreign syndicates. He also questioned the government on security measures and potential compensation for affected farmers.
