These animals, please

It is common to encounter livestock in various locations as one strolls or drives within. They include ducks, chickens, goats and cows which meander from place to place, including into people’s yards. The owners don’t really care where these animals graze and are only interested in counting the numbers at the end of the day. Their wrecking havoc to others is of no consequence as long as their animals feed.

But when something happens to their animal dearest, they do not hesitate to contact whoever they deem responsible. They demand compensation, usually in cash, for an animal that may be injured or die in another’s yard.

Recently, some goats have been having picnics in my yard, demolishing everything in sight. They did this for a number of days until my dogs had enough. I complained, nobody heeded, save for my loyal friends. They picked on one and tore it to shreds. Onlookers did not hesitate to report to the owner who in turn contacted me for compensation. I refused. I told him that as long as the goat was killed in my territory, I wasn’t answerable to its demise. The same owner sought compensation from one of my neighbours when yet another of his beloved goats fell into a septic tank. He was denied.

There are chickens racing with cars along the townships roads, some even mating as cars drive past. And everybody rushes to blame the driver, even demanding their chickens or money back when hit. Are these animals not meant to be kept in enclosures? The best a motorist can do is to avoid hitting the livestock or at least hoot to shoo them away. But under the circumstance beyond a driver’s control, the owner should be liable.

Apparently, owners have nothing to feed their livestock and depend on bushes and people’s lawns. The animals damage these lawns, vegetable and flower gardens—even stealing ndiwo mumphika akazipeza, but the owners still find no reason to cage them. For them, it’s a win win situation—rear animals that benefit them financially at little cost. Food is found in unconventional places. Owners will turn a blind eye to the damage inflicted by their animals, but are quick to demand compensation.

The less privileged, in this case the animal owners, always believe the privileged owe them. Their poverty stricken mentalities assume that those higher than them should be liable for anything, even when they are the victimisers. If you are well-to-do, you don’t deserve justice, so many believe, giving those below a sense of entitlement

For your own information, these animals, especially the big ones are a serious threat to people’s lives when unmanned on the roads. They can cause serious damage to vehicles and even loss of lives if bumped. Isn’t it time law enforcers seriously looked into this matter before a tragedy strikes? When is anybody going to fight to the motorist’s rights?