CRIMINALS INVADE CHOMA FARMS

COMMERCIAL farmers in Choma
District have bemoaned the
increased cases of criminal
activities on their farms and have
appealed to Government to help
safeguard their investments.
The farmers told Vice-President
Guy Scott during a meeting at
Leons conference hall in Choma
at the weekend that they were
living in fear due to rising
criminal acts.
Neil Kirkpatrick, a dairy farmer,
said criminals had invaded the
district and were terrorising
some commercial farmers by
entering their areas unlawfully to
steal cattle and other
commodities.
"Of late, we have been
experiencing rising cases of
robberies on our farms and it is
becoming unsafe for us because
these people carry dangerous
weapons," he said.
Mr Kirkpatrick said the farmers
wanted protection of their
investments especially that most
of them had invested hugely and
had also provided massive
employment opportunities for
the locals.
He said the farmers had suffered
huge losses through livestock
thefts and that the Government
should help put firm mechanisms
aimed at protecting their
agricultural investments.
Another farmer, Hamish Ross
said some criminals were even
following farmers when they go
to banks in Choma town in an
attempt to rob them.
"Choma is a fast growing town
and at the same time crime has
also increased especially in farms.
Our appeal is for Government
and the police to assist us
apprehend these criminals," he
said.
He said the farmers' desire was
for the Government to explore
severe penalties against the
perpetrators in order to dissuade
them from committing the same
offences in the future.
And Dr Scott said Government
was committed to ensuring that
adequate security measures
were put in place to end criminal
activities in the country.