Rundu's roaming livestock irks
The Rundu town council is struggling to address the roaming around of livestock within the boundaries of the town due to a lack of resources.
This challenge, which falls under a myriad of challenges faced by the council, was highlighted by the local authority's public relations officer Benjamin Makayi, in an interview with Nampa. Makayi said the council has tried all efforts to remove kraals found within the perimeters of the town and also to drive livestock found roaming around out of town, but lacks the manpower to do so and to enforce its bylaws.
“We only have one law enforcement officer responsible for the reinforcement of regulations in town which includes livestock control,” he said.
Animals such as goats, cattle and donkeys are regularly spotted grazing in small bushes in town and along Eugen Kakukuru Street, moving closer to the central business district. Makayi said the situation is exacerbated by farmers who do not take good care of their animals and those that still have kraals on the outskirts of town, whom he added leave their animals to take care of themselves, especially now when grazing areas are limited.
“We established through an assessment that most of the roaming livestock actually come from outside the town's boundaries; the kraals in the town itself are less than five,” Makayi explained.
However, Nampa has observed that there are more than five kraals found within the town's boundaries in areas like Sauyemwa, Kasote, Sikanduko and Kaisosi.
As to what the exact actions are when livestock are found in town, Makayi said the animals are impounded and the owners fined an overall fee of N$2 000 for the roaming animals - but the challenge of the enforcement of such laws remain.
“When livestock is spotted in town, the law enforcement officer would liaise with the veterinary office at the agriculture ministry to assist in the identification of the livestock owners, who in turn are informed to collect their animals,” he said.
NAMPA
This challenge, which falls under a myriad of challenges faced by the council, was highlighted by the local authority's public relations officer Benjamin Makayi, in an interview with Nampa. Makayi said the council has tried all efforts to remove kraals found within the perimeters of the town and also to drive livestock found roaming around out of town, but lacks the manpower to do so and to enforce its bylaws.
“We only have one law enforcement officer responsible for the reinforcement of regulations in town which includes livestock control,” he said.
Animals such as goats, cattle and donkeys are regularly spotted grazing in small bushes in town and along Eugen Kakukuru Street, moving closer to the central business district. Makayi said the situation is exacerbated by farmers who do not take good care of their animals and those that still have kraals on the outskirts of town, whom he added leave their animals to take care of themselves, especially now when grazing areas are limited.
“We established through an assessment that most of the roaming livestock actually come from outside the town's boundaries; the kraals in the town itself are less than five,” Makayi explained.
However, Nampa has observed that there are more than five kraals found within the town's boundaries in areas like Sauyemwa, Kasote, Sikanduko and Kaisosi.
As to what the exact actions are when livestock are found in town, Makayi said the animals are impounded and the owners fined an overall fee of N$2 000 for the roaming animals - but the challenge of the enforcement of such laws remain.
“When livestock is spotted in town, the law enforcement officer would liaise with the veterinary office at the agriculture ministry to assist in the identification of the livestock owners, who in turn are informed to collect their animals,” he said.
NAMPA
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