THE government has called for concerted efforts by stakeholders, including private sector players to enhance protection of donkeys in the country, saying the animal risks extension if not well safeguarded.

Speaking during a national level dissemination workshop in Dodoma at the weekend, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Prof Riziki Semdoe, said the government has put in place various measures to protect the country’s remaining donkeys.

The meeting organized by Inades Formation Tanzania, the organization that implements donkey welfare project in the country with funding from Brooke East Africa.

Prof Semdoe said the government banned slaughter of donkeys for meat and trade in the country since 1st October, 2022 as their   populations saw sharp decreases.

In a statement read on his behalf, the PS said Tanzania hosted the first Pan-African Donkey Conference in Dar es Salaam where delegates drafted an urgent declaration to propose to the African Union.

Dubbed ‘Dar es Salaam Declaration on Donkeys in Africa Now and in the Future’ it recommends a 15-year ban on slaughter of donkeys for their meat and skin across the continent.

The declaration also pushes for further policies, strategies, programmes and legislation to help protect donkeys on both a national and regional level. He added that the ministry has also declared donkey as one of the animals not for human consumption.

“Private sector stakeholders in collaboration with the government and international organizations as well as civil society organizations working on donkey welfare seek to ensure the trade for donkey meat and skin is stopped” he said.

He added that the government and private sector will continue providing public education and awareness on the importance of protectingthe working animal and end the illegal trade on the animal’s skin and meat.

Prof Mdoe thanked Inades Formation Tanzania and Brooke East Africa for the commitment and support to improve donkey welfare in Tanzania.

Mbarwa Kivuyo, Inades Formation Tanzania managing director noted that the meeting was to share with other stakeholders findings from some three reports on donkey welfare.

He termed them as report on assessment of the status of donkey trade post ban declaration in Tanzania, the current academic curriculum for diploma and certificate in health in Tanzania if it addresses welfare of donkeys.

The other assessment is on Tanzania animal welfare policy and legal framework review and analysis, especially on donkey slaughter and hides trade.

Samuel Theini,, Brooke East Africa Advocacy and External Affairs Officer, argued that Tanzania is on the forefront in the struggle to improve donkey welfare across the continent.

He cited the country’s determination to conduct the animal’s census and the decision to impose ban on its trade and slaughters as some positive moves.

“Brook East Africa is proud to be associated with Tanzanian government and other stakeholders working to improve donkey welfare,” he said.