KAZABU WANTS MORE PUNISHMENT FOR CATTLE RUSTLERS

FORMER Agriculture and Livestock Deputy Minister Luxon Kazabu, has described as long overdue, making the law on livestock theft to attract a jail term of 14 years but says this is not enough. 

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Kazabu said that the 14-year jail sentence was not adequate but that cattle rustlers needed at least 30 years behind bars if the scourge was to be dealt with conclusively.

He explained that the 14-year jail sentence for cattle rustling was not prohibitive enough as the scourge retarded progress of small Scale livestock farmers in expanding their herds.

“The sentence is supposed to be stiff so that thieves have no more strength to steal again once released,” Mr. Kazabu said.

He stated that the new sentence was by far better than the sentence that existed previously but must be relooked into.

“My wish is for whoever appears before the courts of law, to be sentenced to a maximum 14 years’ imprisonment, as this will deter offenders but a minimum of 30 years would have been better to deter-would-be offenders,” he said.

He added that the new 14-year jail sentence for cattle rustling will act as a way of correction to culprits adding that stiffer punishment was a deterrent that would enable people to desist from indulging in cattle theft especially in Southern Province as it was the bank for the cattle among some village thieves.