Police in the Zambezi Region is urging farmers to brand and tag their cattle to easily identify and recover them when they are stolen.
 
The warning comes after a suspect was intercepted while attempting to cross into Zambia with five herds of cattle.

NamPol's Head of Operations in the Zambezi, Commissioner Joseph Nehemia said cattle branding is important for identification, today we intercepted the cattle, we gave the brand mark to the owner, and the owner identified it, and we called him to the scene.

Commissioner Nehemia said the cattle were stolen in the Namalubi area.

The suspect who is in custody is believed to be a Zambian national. 

The second suspect managed to escape into Zambia before an arrest was made.

Over the past months, multiple cattle stolen from farmers in the Zambezi Region, have been retrieved in neighbouring Zambia where they are taken in through ungazetted points.

Commissioner Nehemia emphasized that, although good relationships and communication between farmers and police in the region have played a huge part in recovering stolen cattle, branding and ear tagging livestock is crucial.

Farmers are urged to consider private tags on their animals with the owner's contact number.