HARARE
–
In
an
urgent
response
to
a
rapidly
spreading
Foot
and
Mouth
Disease
(FMD)
outbreak,
the
Zimbabwe
government
has
imposed
an
immediate,
nationwide
ban
on
all
livestock
movement.
The
drastic
measure,
announced
Thursday,
coincides
with
the
dispatch
of
300,000
free
vaccines
to
high-risk
zones
as
authorities
race
to
contain
the
highly
contagious
virus
threatening
the
nation’s
vital
cattle
herd
and
ambitious
agricultural
goals.
The
outbreak
has
been
confirmed
in
the
Gutu
district,
parts
of
Masvingo,
and
Chivhu,
situated
in
the
country’s
southern
and
central
regions.
FMD
poses
a
severe
threat
to
cloven-hoofed
animals,
including
cattle,
goats,
pigs,
and
sheep,
causing
fever
and
debilitating
blisters
on
the
mouth,
feet,
and
teats.
Left
unchecked,
the
disease
inflicts
major
production
losses
and
devastates
farmer
livelihoods.
“The
vaccines
will
be
strategically
deployed
to
protect
the
country’s
most
valuable
livestock,”
declared
Lands,
Agriculture,
Fisheries,
Water
and
Rural
Development
Deputy
Minister,
Davis
Marapira,
in
an
interview
with
The
Herald.
“We
have
got
more
than
300,000
vaccines,
which
we
are
going
to
focus
on
the
affected
areas
and
we
will
ring-fence
our
important
areas
—
the
pedigree
breeders
and
the
dairy
farmers
—
to
make
sure
we
protect
our
seed
stock
and
keep
dairy
production
strong.”
This
swift
action
aims
to
prevent
a
crisis
mirroring
neighbouring
South
Africa,
where
FMD
has
ravaged
livestock
in
KwaZulu-Natal
and
Free
State
provinces,
crippling
beef
supply
chains
and
endangering
regional
trade.
The
outbreak
strikes
at
a
critical
juncture
for
Zimbabwe,
which
is
pursuing
a
national
strategy
to
expand
its
cattle
herd
to
11
million
over
the
next
decade
to
bolster
food
security
and
enhance
beef
and
dairy
production.
Dr.
Pious
Makaya,
Chief
Director
of
the
Directorate
of
Veterinary
Services
(DVS),
emphasized
the
measures
are
essential,
not
optional.
“This
is
not
just
a
precaution
but
a
necessity,”
Dr.
Makaya
stated.
“We
are
enforcing
these
measures
immediately
to
ensure
that
all
cattle
remain
in
their
farms
and
wards
so
our
teams
can
effectively
carry
out
the
FMD
vaccination
programme.
Any
laxity
at
this
stage
will
compromise
national
livestock
health,
threaten
farmer
livelihoods,
and
disrupt
the
meat
and
dairy
supply
chain.”
The
temporary
movement
ban
is
backed
by
stringent
legal
measures
under
the
Animal
Health
Act
[Chapter
19:01].
Transporting
cloven-hoofed
animals
into
or
out
of
affected
districts
is
now
prohibited
without
written
clearance
from
the
Provincial
Veterinary
Director.
This
must
be
supported
by
a
valid
Veterinary
Movement
Permit
issued
only
after
inspection
by
an
authorised
veterinary
official.
The
ban
means
all
livestock
auctions,
markets,
and
animal
shows
within
quarantined
areas
are
suspended
indefinitely.
The
government
says
vehicle
disinfection
stations
have
been
established
at
strategic
control
zones.
Breaches
will
result
in
animals
being
impounded
and
offenders
facing
prosecution.
Dr.
Makaya
issued
a
strong
appeal
for
compliance
from
all
stakeholders,
including
farmers,
livestock
transporters,
slaughterhouses,
and
the
general
public.
“This
is
a
collective
responsibility.
Our
veterinary
teams
are
on
the
ground
working
closely
with
local
authorities
and
farmer
organisations
to
contain
risks,”
he
said.
“We
urge
all
stakeholders
to
cooperate
with
veterinary
officers
and
law
enforcement
agencies.”
Authorities
also
urged
the
public
to
report
any
signs
of
the
disease
or
suspicious
activity:
“Report
any
unusual
livestock
deaths,
sudden
illnesses,
or
suspicious
animal
movements
to
the
nearest
veterinary
office
immediately.
Together,
we
can
protect
Zimbabwe’s
livestock
industry,
but
it
starts
with
everyone
playing
their
part
in
stopping
this
disease
in
its
tracks,”
Dr.
Makaya
added.