LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC) has emphasized the need for Malawi to review outdated laws that govern animal welfare.
The grouping argues that the outdated laws continues to infringe animal right by allowing bad animal husbandry farming practices including cage system.
This comes as the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development (DAHLD) is planning to review laws including Control and Diseases of Animals Act (Cap 66:02) 1967, Meat and Meat Products Act (Cap 67:02) 1975, Milk and Milk Products Act (Cap 67:05) 1972, Protection of Animals Act (Cap 66:01) 1968, Veterinary and Para-veterinary Practitioners Act 2001(Cap 53:04) and among others.
NYNCC National Coordinator Dominic Nyasulu told The Maravi Post after engaging Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) learners, on Monday, May 13, 2024 in animal welfare and cage free campaign that the nation needs news laws to govern animals amid imaging issues.
He said learners are engaged in instilling them with knowledge on animal rights for better management after studies.
Nyasulu therefore lauded livestock department for planning to review outdated laws towards uplift animal welfare in the country.
“We can’t have laws dated 1975 when a lot has happened in governing animals welfare. These outdated laws are making it hard to make inroads in protecting animal from any sort torture, stress in their habitat.
“We need new laws that match with modern and proper methods of governing animal welfare. We are therefore happy to learn that these outdated laws are being reviewed,” said Nyasulu.
Director of Animal health and Livestock Development Dr. Julius Chulu acknowledges the need for laws’ reviews for better livestock right improvement.
Dr. Chulu agrees, “Lacks an appropriately qualified, designated (Animal Welfare) Board or Committee to set, review, revise, as necessary and implement or enforce animal welfare standards.
“Lacks provisions to authorize the Minister (on the advice of an Animal Welfare Board / Committee), to make regulations for setting standards of management, handling, and nutrition of animals, the humane slaughter of food animals and the humane destruction of animals for other reasons, the conduct of experiments using animals and the use of animals in sport or for the exhibition”.
He adds, “This is the reason we are in the verge of reviewing all outdated laws that govern animal welfare. To show commitment we have national strategy which is governing animal welfare. We expect the laws to be tabled in Parliament for enactment”.
One of Luanar’s Animal Science students Natasha Salenga lauded NYNCC for engaging high learning institution assuring the grouping of total support towards animal welfare after studies.
With financial support Open Wing Alliance, NYNCC with other partners is advancing cage free farming system in Malawi for animal rights.
