Our campaign to stop the illegal roadside sale of puppies and kittens now focuses on orientation of community chiefs as well as members of community police forum about Animal Protection Act.
Last week Thursday, Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA) in conjunction with Malawi Police Service sensitized 13 chiefs (Block leaders) and 17 members of community police forum around Lilongwe city about the laws that protects our animals.
There has been a concern from LSPCA and other stakeholders about the marked increase of live animals being sold by the roadside within city boundaries. This is exposing animals to cruelty, abuse and also increase the dangers of rabies and other zoonotic diseases.
According to Animal Protection Act of 1970 Cap 66:01, Section 3 (1) (a), the Act clearly prohibits any person to cruelly beat, kick, ill-treat, overload, override, torture, infuriate, terrify or cause to procure or permit unnecessary suffering to any animal.
Further to that, section 3 (1) (b) of the same Animal Protection Act forbids carrying or conveying, or permitting in a manner or position as to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal.
Commissioner for Malawi Police Service for central region who was also the guest of honour during the orientation Mr. Goodwell Botomani, urged community chiefs and community policing members to get familiar with the Animal Act of 1970 in order to help address issues of animal rights abuse better.
The Malawi Police Service reach out to communities through their chiefs, and community police forum members when it comes to law enforcement. Sensitizing these chiefs and community police forum members, also sensitizes the communities.
LSPCA as a Centre of Animal Welfare in Malawi is dedicated in promoting animal rights and freedom.
Education Coordinator for LSPCA, Edison Chiweta hinted on the need to engage the Police, community chiefs, and members of community policing as the ideal way to reach out to communities with easy understanding of animal welfare and care messages.
People who sell live animals by the road sides usually violate several animal rights. Firstly, freedom from hunger and thirst is violated when these animals are sold in a place without any provision of food or water. Secondly, animals being sold by the roadsides are usually mishandled and sometimes injured during transportation which is against their right to freedom from pain, injury, and disease explained Chiweta.