DONKEY LIVES MATTER! Manama villagers tackle donkey abuse in bold awareness drive

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu

A GROUP of passionate villagers in Gwanda’s Ward 17 have saddled up to defend one of rural Zimbabwe’s most overlooked workers, the humble donkey.

Under the banner of the Manama Donkey Care Committee, seven committed members from different villages are spearheading an ambitious drive to educate communities about proper donkey care and welfare.

Ms Sandisiwe Nkomo, one of the committee members, said the time had come to stop turning a blind eye to the abuse and neglect of donkeys.
“As a committee our duty is to sensitise people on the welfare and proper care of donkeys,” she said. “In rural areas, donkeys play a crucial role as they provide labour and transport, yet many people mistreat them.”

She said some villagers fail to grasp the value of donkeys, treating them as disposable animals while relying on them daily to ferry firewood, water and agricultural produce.
“People need to understand that if their donkeys are not properly cared for, they’ll lose such a valuable asset. Donkeys deserve the same respect and care as cattle or goats,” said Ms Nkomo.

The committee members have undergone training on donkey welfare, including nutrition, workload management and basic health care. They are now passing this knowledge to fellow villagers in an effort to change attitudes.

The initiative falls under the “Advancing Work Donkey Welfare Standards for Enhancing Women Empowerment and Building Resilient Livelihoods” programme, being rolled out by Government in partnership with Women and Land in Zimbabwe.

The programme, which recently kicked off in Gwanda District, aims to improve the lives of both donkeys and their owners by raising awareness on the importance of humane treatment and sustainable animal care.

With the campaign gaining traction, villagers in Manama are beginning to see their donkeys not just as beasts of burden but as partners in survival, worthy of care, compassion and dignity.

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