By Mohamed T Massaquoi
Security personnel in Pujehun have been ordered to arrest all cattle found freely roaming in the streets as part of measures by the district authorities aimed at cleaning the streets of the animals blamed for a number of health and security problems.
The directive follows a meeting by the Pujehun District Security Coordination (DiSeC) team comprising the Office of National Security (ONS), the military and the police. The meeting held last Thursday at concluded with a warning that the uncontrolled movement of cattle posed a serious security threat in the entire district, especially at this time of the post-Ebola recovery activities.
“We have ordered the immediate intervention of the Sierra Leone Police, Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Sierra Leone Correctional Service to endeavor in moving into communities to search and arrest all uncontrolled cattle roaming in the entire district,” Samuel Tarawally security coordinator at the ONS in Pujehun, told Politico following the meeting which also included the District Officer, the Police Local Unit Commander, the Council of paramount chiefs, and the District council chairman.
A fine of Le50, 000 would be levied on the owner per head of cattle found roaming the streets, and cattle owners risk forfeiting their animals if they fail to pay a fine within 72 hours.
There would be no exception to the law, said the local ONS boss.
The uncontrolled movement of the animals has been blamed for occasioning health and security situations. Authorities cite, for example, the proliferation of tsetse flies associated with cattle. This insect is the vector for the parasite trypanosomes which causes the disease trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, which is common in rural Sierra Leone. Cattle are also associated with the black fly which serves as vector for the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus which causes river blindness, another neglected tropical disease predominant in Sierra Leone.
There are also the recurrent complaints from farmers over the destruction of their plantation by the animals which are also blamed for a number of accidents on the roads.
There have even been reports of incidents involving animals attacking and wounding defenseless children.
According to officials, the efforts to stem this practice of letting cattle move uncontrolled in the streets have been on since two years back when existing by laws were agreed upon. Cattle owners were required, as part of that agreement, to construct ranches for their animals.
But this call has fell on deaf ears as most cattle owners have proven uncooperative, said Tarawally.
He said over the years the bylaws had become irrelevant.
“[But] this time round we have to go the hard way in other to avoid chaos in the district,” he vowed.
According to reports submitted to stakeholders at the meeting held at the district council office in Pujehun town, the taskforce charged with enforcing the law has already accrued Le1.5M within one month of revival of the operation.
Sadiq Silla, chairman of the Pujehun District Council, stressed the need for a robust action in other to succeed in this latest intervention.
“We are going to implement the same strategy as we did during the height of the Ebola crisis in the district and the country at large,” he said at the meeting, stressing the need for cooperation among the security forces and warning against selective justice during operations.
Silla assured of his Council`s collaboration in ensuring the security forces carry out their search effectively.
Some residents have welcomed the move. Commercial motor bike rider, Alhaji Conteh, laments the frequent accidents caused by cattle which had seen them faced endless police cases.
“We have faced so many police cases as a result of these uncontrolled cattle roaming on the streets of Pujehun, causing accidents for us that sometimes resulting to the wounding of passengers,” Conteh told Politico.
Sheik Abdul J. Kamara, a farmer, said most of the uncontrolled cattle are owned by the major decision makers in the community, making it hard for victims of the animal`s problems to get justice.
“On several occasions these animals have been serving as a serious pest to our crops and nothing comes out of it,” he laments.
“To me this act [of leaving animals freely roaming] is even dangerous to the animals themselves as they are exposed to thieves and other harmful things,” Kamara added, noting the risk of snake bite and resultant poor market demand for the animals.
Fonima, a community in the Galiness Perri chiefdom, located 12 miles off the district headquarters town of Pujehun, host the largest single heard of cattle in the entire district. The over 500 heads of cattle belonging Colonel Benjamine Massaquoi of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces has been accused of a causing discomfort for residents.
The colonel is usually based out of the district because of his work. His ranch is supposed to be under the control of a hired herdsman. But residents have complaint that the cattle often move uncontrolled, wrecking destruction on plantation and sometimes attacking villagers.
Fonima is also popular as a trade fair community. Colonel Massaquoi`s cattle are also notorious for attacking market women using the road to the trade fair.
The colonel however denied that his cattle were sources of discomfort for anyone. He said on a telephone interview with Politico that he`d hired a herdsman who ensured that the animals were constantly under guard.
“My cows are controlled and registered,” he said, referring us to various local authorities to verify his claim.
“I wouldn’t bring that kind of investment and leave it uncontrolled.”
(C) Politico 11/08/15
