THE Veterinary Department in Choma has slaughtered and burnt 32 pigs after the owners from Kalomo and Choma District were found transporting them without a stock movement permit.
The department impounded 22 pigs in Chief Macha’s area in Choma while 10 were impounded from Chief Chikanta in Kalomo.
This follows Government’s recent restriction on movement of pigs due to a fresh outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF) in some districts in Southern Province.
Over 200 pigs from Chief Macha’s area have been died from ASF since January this year.
Speaking on Tuesday during destruction of the 32 pigs, Choma District Veterinary Officer Alex Hachangu urged farmers to stop transporting pigs until ASF was contained in the district.
Dr Hachangu said the slaughter and subsequently burning of the pigs should serve as a warning to people fond of transporting such animals without obtaining a stock movement permit.
“The transportation of animals without a permit is in violation of the Human Health Act number 27 of the Laws of Zambia and that’s why we impounded these pigs because they had no permits,” he said.
He said the two chiefdoms in the province had been marked as deadly areas because many pigs had tested positive of ASF hence the department could not allow movements of pig from Macha and Chikanta area.
Dr Hachangu appealed to farmers to seek advice from the veterinary officers before transporting pigs.
He warned that the department would not tolerate people who abrogate the veterinary regulations.
He was disappointed that despite many farmers being informed about outbreak of ASF, some had resorted to transporting pigs illegally.
Dr Hachangu said the department had mounted vigorous check points in Choma to monitor the illegal transportation of pigs.
In December last year, Government banned the movement of pigs and pork products in the province to prevent the spread of ASF which was recorded in Lusaka where about 9,700 pigs on 47 farms were slaughtered.
Gruesome! Eish!
This world is cruel!? Innocent pig souls slaughtered in presence of each other, while a deserved soul Kabimba was on parliament podium insulting Zambians.
these PIGS were from an infected area. you wont find the doctors testing for NH virus in all the chickens. they just burn them if the sample is infected. Fact is whether you kill a pig while singing a lalaby to it …the pig is dead..
Oppose any thing and everything as long as it is done under PF rule.Even when the Government is trying to remove human waste from your mouth,OPPOSE.
They braiied in secret
Eish, they burned the wrong pigs!
They should have gone to check for PF – Piggy F00LS – in Parliament where they have no valid permits (constitution) and want an animal driven constitution!
Especially the Piggy Farmer Scott who makes lots of money from African Swine Fever!
This is animal cruelty! Why not just return them to where they came from?
THIS IS ANIMAL CRUELTY AT ITS BEST. WHAT HAS THE PIGS DONE TO TO DESERVE A DEATH PENALTY WITHOUT BEING HEARD JUST BECAUSE THE TRANSPORTER DID NOT ARRANGE THEIR PERMIT/ PASSPORT.
ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE ABSENCE OF A PERMIT MEANS THEN THAT THE PIGS ARE SICK.
I VE OBSERVED THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T RESPECT THE WAY THEY KILL THEIR FOOD. ESPECIALLY THE FAMOUS GOAT MEAT AND PIGS AT CHIBOLYA/EMMASDALE.
SOME ANIMAL ARE KILLED WHILE LOOKING AT THEIR FRIENDS BEING BRAAIED.
In an out break situation driving animals to any direction means further spread of the disease. The cry is loud and clear farmers can’t sustain these pigs under indefinite livestock movement ban. Taking pigs to Lusaka posses no risk what so ever since the disease is already there. Alternatively, a local market could be organized to relief the farmers burden of feeding the swine.
Over 200 pigs from Chief Macha’s area have been died from ASF since January this year.
What does this statement mean Ba LT!
kekekeke, It means the 200 pigs were part of the chiefdom, now the chiefdom population has reduced
“confisticates”? lol
That’s why PF government have stopped using English, its so
Is this article written and spell checked by PF government?
I beg to be heard by the Government of Zambia. Lusaka pig farmers were compensated and pigs slaughtered to counter ASF. Since that time we the people of Southern Province who rear hogs have borne the brunt of serious economic attrition as we keep feeding the swine (which by the way do no free range easily) as there is no market. GRZ, come and slaughther the hogs and give us cash before we resort to illegal acts to save our pockets! This is an earnest appeal to Hon Kazabu.
The handling of the situation is utterly sad. As a trained veterinarian, I do understand illegal transportation of animals can result into disease spread especially when there is an outbreak. However, we have measures to mitigate such a situation in a much more scientific and civilized manner. First, slaughter and burning the animals not proven infected or carriers of the ASF virus is a not only animal cruelty but also a waste of much need resources in Zambia. What the veterinary department should do is impound the animals and observe/examine possibility of disease status during that time. If the animals showed signs of disease, in this case, ASF, then slaughter could be instituted. If, however, animals were health, they could have humanely slaughter for food which is much need!