Zanzibar — MEMBERS of the Zanzibar House of representatives are asking the government to stop the ongoing cruelty to animals.

Debating the budget proposal for the Ministry of livestock and fishing for the 2012/2013 on Monday, legislators pointed out that many animals, particularly donkeys and bulls widely used in transportation, were mistreated.

"These animals are mistreated, it has been a cry for many years and yet no action to control the abuse. Something should be done to safeguard the animals," said Mr Ismail Jussa Ladu (CUF- Mjimkongwe). Mr Jaku Hashim Ayoub (CCM-Muyuni) said, "Donkeys and bulls are made to carry heavy loads with beatings. This is unacceptable."

Mr Rufai Said Rufai (CUF- Tumbe) also said that cruelty to animals was rampant in many areas and that the rights of animals were not observed when slaughtering of them.

"In fact animals are complaining. There was a recent incident in Chakechake Pemba, where a bull was being slaughtered while another bull was looking on. The other bull, which was looking on ran to Madungu police station, maybe it went to report it," Mr Rufai said, amusing his colleagues, but said that it was an indication that human beings in Zanzibar abuse animals.