Government  has warned poultry farmers in the habit of using human antibiotics and anti-retroviral (ART) drugs to treat and boost the growth of their birds that they risk being arrested and prosecuted if caught. Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Kampamba Chewe told Parliament yesterday that using antibiotics in chickens has detrimental effects not only in the birds, but human beings too.

“Human antibiotics are not meant for animals. Using them in animals can cause mental disorders in humans and other complications,” she said. The minister said this in response to Luangeni member of Parliament (MP) Charles Zulu during questions for oral answer. Mr Zulu wanted to know if Government was aware that some poultry farmers were using antibiotics to treat chickens.

Mrs Chewe, however, said Government was not aware of any such farmer, but warned of stern action against culprits. She said 138 extension officers were on the ground randomly inspecting chickens for various diseases at the rearing and selling points. Mrs Chewe said Government will not ban the rearing of chickens based on reports that some poultry farmers were treating their birds with antibiotics because the country has a shortage of poultry products.

She urged citizens with evidence of people using antibiotics in chickens to report such to her ministry to allow for investigations and appropriate action to be taken. The minister said registering poultry farmers is an impossible undertaking because a number of them were rearing chickens in their backyards.

“It is out of this world for the ministry to ban the rearing of poultry because of rumours,” she said. Mrs Chewe was responding to Kabwe Central MP Tutwa Ngulube, (PF), who, in a follow-up question, wanted to know if Government intends to ban the rearing of poultry until it registers all poultry farmers to ensure no-one was rearing harmful birds.

And minister of Tourism and Art Charles Banda, said officers have been deployed to control elusive elephants in Lusangazi district of Eastern Province to protect people and their crops.

Dr Banda was responding to Msanzala MP Peter Daka, (PF), who wanted to know if Government was aware that elephants had invaded Chibale area in Lusangazi destroying crops and granaries.