MARES Zimbabwe helping to make big changes to animal welfare law

At the beginning of August, AAA partner group MARES, together with Advocate Chinonda, Animal Lawyer for Speak out for Animals (SOFA), held a 3 day seminar where they invited all relevant stake holders in animal welfare, including 2 ZRP police, 2 Public Prosecutors, a Magistrate, the MARES team and 2 private lawyers.  The seminar covered all aspects of animal law, both for domestic and wildlife animals. We primarily held this seminar due to the many grey areas and unknown laws MARES came across when charged with 20 counts of stock theft and the threat of all 82 rehabilitating donkeys at MARES being confiscated and taken to the Council pound.  The seminar was both informative and enlightening.  All participants were taken on a tour of MARES where we showed the difference between a stray animal as opposed to an abandoned animal.  At the end of the third day all stakeholders signed the animal law amendment that we hope will be put through parliament, which updates our outdated Animal to Cruelty Act.  The main changes to the Animal Cruelty Act were:-

Changing the punishment fine from ZW$200.00 (US$3) to US$200.00 AND imprisonment/community service.

Removing donkeys, mules and horses from "stock animals" into their own category being Equus.  We provided evidence that the word "stock" in the statutory instrument covered cloven hoofed animals farmed for commercial use.  Donkeys are not and never have been farmed.  This will then prevent unnecessary harassment from the police and Council.

The surrender to MARES or other welfare organisations of any donkeys, mules or horses that are in our custody for our disposal should the owners or culprits not be found by the police within 30 days.

This is great news for the welfare of local working animals in Zimbabwe!