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Title: | 'It is Like the Time of Lifaqane': The Impact of Stock Theft and Violence in Southern Lesotho |
Authors: | Kynoch, Gary Ulicki, Theresa |
Year: | 2000 |
Periodical: | Journal of Contemporary African Studies |
Volume: | 18 |
Issue: | 2 |
Period: | July |
Pages: | 179-206 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Lesotho |
Subjects: | violence theft cattle Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Law, Human Rights and Violence Ethnic and Race Relations |
External links: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/713675621 http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=FNWNV0G32X7Q9YVCTU4T |
Abstract: | This paper examines the social, economic, political and environmental impacts of stock theft and violence on the residents of southern Lesotho. It is based on interviews conducted with stockowners, non-stockowners, chiefs, shepherds, and police and other officials in the Qacha's Nek and Quthing districts in 1999. The overriding cause of stock theft is poverty. Location is a key factor in determining the extent and nature of victimization. Villages close to the border with South Africa find themselves in a difficult situation for they are targeted by both Sotho and South African thieves. Cross-border stock theft has resulted in a high level of violence, with border villages reporting stock-theft-related deaths and injuries. Mistrust and lack of cooperation due to stock theft define intervillage relations as well as relations within villages. Stock theft often exacerbates the already existing divisions concerning livestock within households. The economic impact of stock theft on households, villages and districts has been devastating. By far the most common community effort to thwart stock theft is the formation of stock theft associations (STAs). The primary reason vigilante activities are so prevalent is the perception that the police and courts are ineffective. Bibliogr., notes, ref. |