News / National
Cattle to have reflective ear tags
13 Dec 2014 at 10:53hrs | Views
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe has launched a milestone pilot project to brand livestock with reflective ear tags in a move aimed at minimising the vehicle-animal collisions on the country's major highways as well as stock-theft.
The branding exercise, which began in Matabeleland South, is expected to be rolled out countrywide in affected areas where there is high prevalence of accidents caused by stray animals.
During the launch on Wednesday, 284 head of cattle were branded with yellow reflective tags and the owners given certificates.
The project was launched in Insuza North along the Shangani-Mbembesi road on the Bulawayo-Harare Highway, an area where scores of lives have been lost due to the stray livestock on the roads.
Guest of honour at the event, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Petronella Kagonye, said the programme was one of the critical steps taken by government to reduce vehicle-animal collisions.
"This is a pilot project in which my ministry has made a commitment to brand more than 4,000 cattle with reflective tags.We're doing this not only as a demonstration of best road safety practice but also as an example to be followed by cattle owners residing along the major highways," said Kagonye.
She said the TSCZ had led the collaborative initiative involving the police, traditional leaders and Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that the pilot project kicks off.
"We're convinced that accidents involving livestock can be avoided if they're visible to approaching vehicles," said Kagonye.
She added that the reflective tags would reduce the chances of livestock being struck by a vehicle by improving the visibility of the stray animals.
Kagonye urged motorists to avoid night driving as much as possible.
He said the TSCZ had mobilised farmers in that area to bring their cattle for the branding exercise.
By being awarded certificates, the farmers take full responsibility in case of accidents as the tags have an identity number.
Present at the launch was National Co-ordinator Anti-Stock Theft, Senior Assistant Commissioner Bernard Dumbura, who said his unit initiated and implemented the operation code-named "No to Livestock Straying on the Highway/Hatshi Izifuyo Emgwaqweni/Zvipfuyo Mumugwagwa Kwete.
"Although the exercise to eradicate stray animals on the country's highways has been largely successful, the major challenge has been failure to easily identify owners of the cattle straying on the highways due to lack of personalised brands which link cattle to individual farmers," said Snr Asst Comm Dumbura.
"The Zimbabwe Republic Police has seriously taken the cattle branding initiative to ensure that cattle are identified with their owners in case of stock theft and road accidents."
He said after the Shangani-Mbembesi areas were identified for the pilot project, a total of 381 applications for brand certificates were submitted to the Registrar General's Office for processing.
Also present at the event were Deputy Minister of Agriculture responsible for Cropping, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Davis Marapira, TSCZ board chair Nelson Kahwema, TSCZ, managing director Obio Chinyere, Insiza District Administrator Sithandiwe Ndumo Ncube, Zanu PF member Jabulani Phetshu Sibanda, Central Committee member Lesley Ncube, traditional leaders and villagers from Mbembesi, Ntabazinduna and Shangani areas.
The pilot programmes will be launched in Rutenga, Gwanda, and Nyamaropa in Nyanga district and later be rolled out throughout the country.
According to TSCZ, stray animals were responsible for most accidents in the Nyamaropa area of Nyanga where vehicle- animal collisions were most prevalent, followed by Beitbridge in Matabeleland South.
Source - Chronicle
