The Sunday News
INSURANCE company, Clarion Insurance, on Friday launched an animal tagging initiative in Matabeleland South meant to ensure the safety of livestock as the country strives to build a national herd.
The initiative was launched at Marula cattle holding pen along the Plumtree highway where villagers received 500 reflective tags to improve visibility of livestock to motorists.
Speaking at the launch, Clarion Insurance marketing manager Mr Mehlule Ncube said the initiative was important as the company wanted to help in the preservation and protection of livestock which are a valued asset to villagers.
“Our cattle, donkeys, goats and sheep are an integral part of our lives as Zimbabweans. Livestock represents our wealth, our pride and legacy and reports of theft, straying and loss due to accidents erode our wealth,” said Mr Ncube.
Mr Ncube said the ATI was an innovative technology that utilises reflective ear tags which increase animal visibility during the night making it easier for motorists to see the animal especially on the roads as well as serving as an ID for the animals with the details of the owner, location and other relevant information.
“This will help in the identification of animals as well as reducing the incidents of straying animals as their origins can be easily traced. Reporting of missing animals is also made easier,” he said.
Speaking on the relevance of livestock to the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset), Mr Ncube said livestock contributes to food security and nutrition through the provision of draught power, manure and food from animal products such as meat and milk.
He said livestock was also key to poverty alleviation and income security and present an opportunity for beneficiation and value addition.
“Smallholder farmers hugely rely on their livestock as sources of income and through such initiatives as pen fattening and milk, livestock can be value added. It is important that we take concerted efforts to ensure the well being of our livestock for national development,” Mr Ncube added.
Mangwe Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Nketha Mangoye Dlamini said that council was mulling making the ATI a by-law that will see all cattle having reflective tags.
He said this initiative would benefit both farmers and motorists.
“The tagging of animals will help with identification and visibility while motorists who are involved in accidents involving animals will benefit because they are able to trace the owner for compensation purposes,” he said.
Mr Mangoye Dlamini urged villagers to safeguard their animals through daily penning instead of leaving them to go astray.
Clarion Insurance indicated that the programme would be rolled out to other areas in the region as the first phase of the initiative involves 1 500 reflective tags.
The company said that in the long term, the initiative would become national.
