Govt still examining Quill birds

Minister of Environment  and Climate Change Oppah Muchinguri has said the government is still examining the quill birds to establish if people may not contract  diseases from them.

"We have wild fruits in the forest like mazhanje but I have never seen anyone taking that wild fruit to plant it at his own home.  We also have buffaloes and other animals that live in the forest but we have not heard anyone who took them home to tame them," he said. "These wild birds have to be examined first by the department of wild life.  So people should understand that because they can get diseases from them.  That is why we stopped them because we still have to examine them to see if there are any diseases or not.  Those who are keeping them in their backyards here in the locations, I said they are free to continue - but people hear what they want to hear."

MP Murisi Zwizwai had said the problem is that still it is not clear how people should go about their business, especially those who are keeping quail birds all over the country in Chikombedzi, Binga and some other places.

"There are eggs that can be found in the bush and those from tamed birds.  What should they do with their eggs because we have not heard of anyone who has been arrested or that a docket that has been opened?  What should we do then?  What I would like to hear from the Minister is whether those who are keeping their quail birds in their backyards continue selling quail birds or not?" he said.