EMA warns against use of tyres to burn carcasses

Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau

The use of tyres by the Department of Veterinary Services to destroy carcasses of livestock being moved illegally has been condemned by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), which argues that the smoke coming out of tyres is harmful to the environment.

Other means of destroying or incinerating the carcasses need to be used, says EMA.

The development comes as the Department of Veterinary Services burnt 10 cattle using tyres in the presence of police officers in Mashonaland West on Saturday.

Officials from the Department of Veterinary Services manning a roadblock at Old Citrus Farm, about 3km from Chinhoyi along Mhangura Road, intercepted the cattle that were being moved illegally from Zvimba to Makonde, and the owner failed to produce a Veterinary Services movement permit.

EMA provincial spokesperson, Mr Munyaradzi Nhariswa, said while the killing of cattle being illegally moved was aimed at controlling the surge in livestock diseases, using tyres to burn cattle was a violation of national statutes in relation to environmental management.

“This is in direct contravention of the pollution prevention regulations as provided for in the Environmental Management Act Cap 20:27 as read with SI 72 of 2009,” he said.

EMA issued an Environmental Protection order directing the Department of Veterinary Services to immediately stop the use of tyres to burn livestock.

Provincial veterinary officer, Dr Thokozani Mswela, could not be reached for comment yesterday.