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Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
ZVISHAVANE Town Council has built cattle pens to put all livestock that stray into the Central Business District from where they would be auctioned, an official has said.
Council director of Central Administration Services Mr Muongororo Mazai said owners of the stray livestock will be fined upon collection while livestock that remains unclaimed for more than a month will be auctioned.
“We have started to round up livestock found roaming in the Central Business District. These include cattle, goats, donkeys, sheep and dogs. When the owners of the animals come to collect their livestock, they will pay a fine. Animals that remain unclaimed for more than a month will be auctioned to the public.
“So, we are urging farmers surrounding Zvishavane town to come and collect their livestock and also to make sure that they monitor livestock not to get into town and roam in the streets. The livestock has been causing havoc in town, disrupting traffic and people’s movement as well as soiling the streets and pavements with dung,” he said.
Mr Mazai said the municipality will work with the police to make sure there is compliance.
“We will work hand in hand with the police to make sure that owners of the animals are compliant with the council directives,” said Mr Mazai.
Zvishavane residents have often complained about how stray cattle destroy their vegetable gardens at home. Recently, the Gweru City Council made a decision to shoot all stray donkeys and dogs in the city as the donkeys had become a nuisance in the city, disrupting traffic and destroying the residents’ vegetable gardens, while cases of dog bites kept rising.
The council later reversed its decision after being dragged to court by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) over its decision to put down stray dogs and donkeys. A number of towns are battling stray animals in their jurisdiction. In Bulawayo donkeys are a common feature in most western suburbs.
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Bongani Ndlovu