Tussle over buffalo relocation
A Headlands safari operator who allegedly moved an uninspected buffalo bull from a game park in Goromonzi has approached the court seeking an urgent order to interdict the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) from killing and disposing of the animal.
On two occasions, the Veterinary Department tried to eliminate the animal, arguing that its movement without a veterinary movement permit poses serious danger to animal health in the province since a buffalo can be a carrier of foot-and-mouth disease and buffalo-derived theileriosis.
The buffalo was moved from Bushman Rock Safaris in Goromonzi to Eco-Nyati Game Park in Headlands, thereby prompting the issuance of a destruction and disposal order by the Department of Veterinary Services director, Dr Jairus Machakwa.
However, a team tasked to eliminate the buffalo twice failed to execute the order last week.
On January 15, the safari operator, Dr Kudakwashe Mucharambeyi refused to budge and allegedly stopped the team from executing the order.
On the following day, he was armed with an interim interdict from Rusape Magistrates’ Court.
Dr Mucharambeyi engaged Mr Tendai Bvuma of Bvuma and Associates to fight the destruction and disposal order arguing that the Department of Veterinary Services should resort to other options enshrined in the Animal Health Act (Chapter 19:01) like cleansing and disinfecting, treating or ordering the animal’s further quarantine, instead of killing it.
The destruction and disposal order, dated January 15, 2024 reads: “Information at my disposal indicates that on January 15, 2024, Dr Kudakwashe Mucharambeyi moved a buffalo bull from Bushman Rock Safaris to EcoNyati Game Park in Headlands without a veterinary movement permit in contravention of the provisions of the Animal Health Act, (Chapter 19:01) and its subsidiary Animal Health (Movement of Game Animals) Regulations, 1984.
“Movement of a buffalo without veterinary movement permit carries extremely high risk to animal health in the country, with a huge potential to cause animal disease outbreaks that can wipe the national herd ...
“Buffalo is a known carrier of footand-mouth disease and buffalo-derived theileriosis. The continued presence of the illegally moved buffalo in Makoni militates against Government’s disease control efforts and threatens the animal health situation in Makoni, Manicaland and the whole country.”
Dr Machakwa directed the Provincial Veterinary Officer (Manicaland) or his representative to destroy the buffalo and ensure safe disposal of the carcass in the presence of the police.
The buffalo bull was allegedly moved together with a sable bull, an eland bull, a wildebeest bull and a tsessebe bull on December 31, 2023.
Dr Mucharambeyi said he transported the animal with a view of inviting the veterinary officials to regularise the restocking of buffaloes at the game park since it was transported before they could certify it.
In his urgent application for interdict, Dr Mucharambeyi said he approached the former Department of Veterinary Services Chief Director, Dr Joseph Nyika to inspect the animal. However, he kept making excuses.
“Dr Nyika continued to make excuses having indicated around the end of November 2023 that he was coming to inspect the animal before it was moved to the applicant’s game park in Headlands.
“On January 15, the Department of Veterinary Services officials came to the applicant’s game park with a destruction and disposal order, indicating that they intended to kill and destroy the buffalo since it was transferred without a veterinary movement permit. The animal in question was moved on December 31, 2023 and has been in quarantine to date.
“The applicant is in the process of engaging them to exercise other numerous options in the Animal Health Act other than killing and destroying the buffalo,” he argued.
Dr Mucharambeyi said despite his pleas for the officials to resort to other options outlined like cleansing and disinfecting the buffalo, they are determined to kill it.
“The buffalo came from a reputable game park with no history of disease or pests, and since its arrival has been in quarantine. It is not sick, neither does it have any pests.
“From day one, I have been in communication with the officials so that they could inspect it. Even after I had taken it, I continued asking them to come for the regularisation, but they never did.
“It is surprising and unfair that they only come seeking to destroy the animal as if I sneaked it in without their knowledge,” he pleaded.
The matter is expected to be heard at Rusape Magistrates’ Court on 8 February.