Public Pounds and Trespass Act (Cap. 253).

This Act provides for the establishment, management and control of public pounds and certain matters relating to grazing and tresspass of livestock. The Act consists of 83 sections divided into 5 Parts: Preliminary (I); Establishment and Control of Pounds (II); Trespass (III); Pound Fees (IV); General (V). The Minister may, by statutory notice, establish a pound at any place within a declared area and may similarly abolish any pound so established. (sect. 3). The management and control of every pound shall be vested in the District Secretary of the District in which such pound is situated. The District Secretary may appoint a Poundmaster of any pound in his District subject to the terms of the contract entered into between the District Secretary and such Poundmaster (sect. 5). Section 6 sets out duties of a Poundmaster. Sections 7 to 25 provide in more detail for various actions the Poundmaster must undertake such as measures to prevent diseases and the keeping of a pound book, and specify offences. Any owner upon whose land any animal is found trespassing may send such animal to that pound which is the nearest, by a practicable road or thoroughfare, to the land trespassed upon, and to no other pound (sect. 26). No person shall: (a) use or retain possession of or sell or otherwise dispose of any animal found astray; or (b) sell or dispose of any animal found trespassing upon his property (sect. 29). Section 31 defines duties of landowners in connection with stray animals. Various other provisions of Part III concern payment of compensation of damages.

Zambia · 1920-04-28