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Rescue operations carried out in recent weeks
Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA)
Extracted from the ZNSPCA update
July 20, 2004

Three Ridgebacks were left on a farm in Raffingora following its invasion and the owner was unable to return for several weeks. An old male died the night before the team arrived. The caring domestic workers had been feeding the dogs on cooked pumpkin - the only food available. At the request of the owner, the dogs were taken to Harare and euthanaised.

Another farmer was violently evicted in the Glendale area. His herd of registered Ayrshire dairy cows were moved by government trucks to a Research Station – in spite of 2 attempts neither the owner nor ZNSPCA have been allowed access to check on their welfare. Charges of stock-theft have been laid.

An elderly couple on a smallholding in Ruwa were both shot by an armed settler and were hospitalised for some time. ZNSPCA supervised the feeding of their 15 hand-reared tame Duiker. The couple will not be returning to their property and at their request the Duiker were relocated and their dog rehomed.

Two couples on a farm in Goromonzi were given 4 days by war veterans and the youth militia to vacate their home of 32 years. Both couples have always been very active in the community, ran Border Collie Rescue as well as taking in displaced horses from farms. The ZNSPCA team worked from 5am to 7pm using the horse-box to move those animals which could not make the long walk, such as pregnant cows and an elderly pony with poor eye-sight. The team also moved the Collies, Cats, Chickens and Goats.

Tension remains very high in the Odzi area where a commercial farmer, who was being physically attacked, accidentally shot and killed a war veteran. Following this incident several farmers and their families have been threatened and they have fled their farms. One couple appealed to ZNSPCA to rescue their cats and dogs. The Officer-in-Charge at Odzi Police Station refused to provide a Police escourt stating that it was like a "war-zone down that road" and not even they would enter the area. The team later met the owner’s maid at the Police station and drove her as close as they could to the farm. This meant driving through Kondozi (another invaded farm) which is the subject of an intense dispute between members of the government hierarchy. At one point this brave young lady said that it was not safe for the team to proceed any further. The team gave her a large bag of dried cat food, meat and a bag of dog meal which she placed on her head as she disappeared down the road. It was later established that she got through and fed all the animals.

A few days later the furniture removal workers managed to bring the dogs out and they were euthanaised at Mutare SPCA. Their owners drove through from Harare to be with their beloved animals at the end.

ZNSPCA was requested to take much needed food to cattle on a farm invaded by an Army General. The owner (a widow) had not been onto the farm for 2 months – but she and her son had gone out the day before to put weaner plates on some of the calves. Both were seriously beaten by soldiers as were 3 of the farm workers. As they tried to drive through the security gates one of the guards cocked his gun at their heads. A week later ZNSPCA delivered sacks of feed and treated two cows which had been wounded. There was only one army detail in sight.

ZNSPCA returned a few days later with a Police escort for the weighing and videoing of the herd, prior to them being sold. This time there were more armed soldiers present, some of whom were openly smoking mbanje (cannabis).

The team returned a third time to supervise the loading and removal of the cattle - ZNSPCA presence was to ensure that the soldiers did not interfere as they had hinted they would. Heavily pregnant cows were loaded – destined for slaughter - as well as day old calves. The farm is situated in a 'Red Zone' area (foot and mouth area) and therefore any cattle leaving the farm may only be taken direct for slaughter.

Last to leave were the five family horses and the grandson’s donkey "Indaba". The ZNSPCA truck carried the Geese, Bantams and a Calf with a broken leg. As the team left, Meryl took some photographs of a huge pile of snares collected by the workers – the two armed soldiers at the gate were not amused and the team beat a hasty retreat.

ZNSPCA attended Brunton Farm in Bromley, where the farmer’s wife and a lady who lives in their cottage were badly beaten and robbed of all their possessions and vehicles by settlers who have been targeting the farm for some time. Earlier in the year ZNSPCA had to request that the settlers allow the horses to be fed as they had prevented the farm workers from doing so. The groom was also badly beaten and his wife taken by the settlers and raped. ZNSPCA checked on the horses two days later as the family had fled to Harare. Workers were found feeding and grooming the horses - this situation will be monitored.

A farmer who used to farm in the Tengwe area requested the assistance of ZNSPCA in recovering his herd of Sable. Rampant poaching by the settlers was taking place. Many of the animals had not been killed outright, but wounded and left to die. The war vet in charge was also refusing to allow the game, including Zebra and Wildebeest, access to feed on game cubes even though there was plenty available. Meryl and Simon held meetings with all the stake-holders i.e. Urungwe District Council, Campfire, the Police, National Parks, war vets and settlers. The Police at Magunje and Karoi openly admitted that they themselves had shot some of the game on the farm – openly declaring that all the game on farms now belonged to the government to do with what they liked, "even all the fruit and all the vegetables". National Parks supported the farmer and Urungwe District Council wanted "a percentage". After further talks with the war vets and settlers, they have at last agreed that the game may be relocated. ZNSPCA will be in Tengwe this week.

Apart from the work on farms, the National Inspectors continue to respond to other reports of abuse. Dairy farms owned by 'new' farmers remain a nightmare. Recently on a dairy farm in Beatrice the team came across a huge pile of bones - the remains of all the dairy cows that had died there – another two herds are being monitored in the area – hygiene is non-existent and the cows receive very little supplementary feeding despite being milked twice a day.

Meryl showed Minister John Nkomo the graphic photos of the dairy herd on Collingwood Farm at a meeting last week. She reported that he was visibly shocked and said "one photograph is more eloquent than a dozen reports". He phoned the Governor in her presence and told him to proceed to Collingwood immediately – it is understood that he went there the same day.

Whilst covering the country during their investigations, ZNSPCA have also checked on Security Company dogs in Marondera, Goromonzi, Ruwa and Chipinge. Donkeys have been treated in Beitbridge, Gwanda, Balla Balla, Tengwe, Middle Save, Hot Springs, Tanganda Halt and Birchenough Bridge. The team also called in at several Police Stations in the lowveld to increase awareness of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the work of the ZNSPCA and SPCA's.

Two new Trainee National Inspectors (Simbabashe Tambgwa and Mathias Tengaruwa) are doing excellent work in the Chinyika and Rusike communal areas. At least twice a week they go out on foot armed with a First Aid Kit and educational pamphlets. They are being well received by the villagers who previously had no access to advice on animal welfare e.g. how to care for their chickens, rabbits, dogs etc. The two Trainees have paid follow up visits on their earlier calls and have reported a great improvement in the welfare of all domestic animals. The villagers themselves have also sent messages of appreciation with further requests for assistance.

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