81 goats confiscated by the Veterinary Service Department as they were being illegally transported from Gokwe to Harare have been killed.
“All the goats.. came from an infected district, a red zone in Gokwe. They have to be destroyed. So that’s what we are doing now,” said a VSD official as the goats were being slaughtered.
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The official said that goats from Sibiya, Gokwe were originally destined for Kwekwe but the owner had then tried to smuggle them to Harare instead.
Masiya Mateyaunga was intercepted at a road block in Selous, Chegutu district, on October 19 with the 81 goats for which he did not have proper authorisation to move.
Zimbabwe lost out on lucrative contracts due to the presence of foot and mouth disease.
The country is working to contain the disease within the red zone areas to expedite resumption of exports from the disease free zones.
In March the Department of Veterinary Services slaughtered and burnt 12 cattle at Arda Sanyati after the animals were illegally moved from a red zone area.
"Gokwe North district is foot and mouth disease red zone area and currently under quarantine for FMD. The illegal movement posed risk of spread of FMD to free areas," DVS director for Veterinary Field Services, Dr Jairus Machakwa said at the time and warned the public against trying to smuggle animals out of the area.
“If you move goats without police clearance and a Veterinary Permit, these are the consequences.
“The message has to move around the whole of Zimbabwe, so that we don’t do such a painful act. This painful to destroy 81 goats, but there is nothing that we can do. The law has to be enforced,” said the VSD official presiding over the slaughter of the 81 goats.
The law says impounded animals must be destroyed and the owners are not entitled to any compensation and are liable for prosecution which may result in a fine or a jail sentence.
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