Category: News Feeds

Officials
say
that
while
Zimbabwe
has
so
far
contained
infections
to
high-risk
districts
along
wildlife
corridors,
the
situation
remains
fragile
amid
suspected
new
cases,
vaccine
shortages
and
fears
the
disease
could
spread
further,
threatening
livestock,
trade
and
farmer
livelihoods.

The
concerns
were
raised
during
a
livestock
conference
held
at
the
Zimbabwe
International
Exhibition
Centre
on
Thursday
under
the
theme Advancing
Livestock
Value
Chains
for
Economic
Development.

Presenting
on
the
impact
of
disease
outbreaks
and
responses,
Chief
Director
of
Veterinary
Services
in
the
Ministry
of
Agriculture,
Pious
Makaya,
said
Zimbabwe’s
FMD
cases
remain
largely
confined
to
ecological
“hotspots”
near
wildlife
conservancies
and
national
parks,
where
cattle
and
wild
animals
interact.

“Almost
every
SADC
country
is
affected,”
he
said,
adding
that
South
Africa
had
reported
infections
across
all
its
provinces
to
the
World
Organisation
for
Animal
Health.

“Zimbabwe
is
in
a
better
position
because
infections
are
mainly
in
Regions
Four
and
Five
along
conservancies
and
national
parks,”
he
said.

Despite
this
relative
containment,
Dr
Makaya
warned
of
a
more
dangerous
strain,
known
as
Type
O,
recently
identified
in
Mozambique
and
Zambia.

“The
most
concerning
issue
now
is
Type
O,
which
is
highly
virulent,”
he
said,
adding
that
there
were
fears
it
could
spread
through
Zimbabwe’s
eastern
border.

He
noted
that
while
the
Zambezi
River
provides
a
natural
barrier
with
Zambia,
movement
across
the
Mozambican
border
remains
a
higher
risk.

Dr
Makaya
said
about
316
000
cattle
are
currently
under
FMD
quarantine,
preventing
their
participation
in
local,
regional
and
international
trade.

“Four
FMD
districts,
with
a
census
of
316,000
cattle,
are
under
quarantine
and
excluded
from
trade
in
live
animals
and
their
products,”
he
said.

He
added
that
suspected
cases
continue
to
emerge
in
different
parts
of
the
country,
including
a
recent
alert
in
Goromonzi
District.

“Suspected
cases
remain
unconfirmed
until
laboratory
testing
is
complete.
We
only
report
to
the
World
Organisation
for
Animal
Health
when
cases
are
confirmed,”
he
said.

Most
confirmed
cases,
he
said,
are
in
districts
such
as
Mangwe
District,
which
borders
Botswana.

He
warned
that
the
situation
could
worsen
if
outbreaks
spread
to
central
regions.

“It
is
fortunate
that
infections
are
not
in
the
centre
of
the
country,”
he
said,
adding
that
areas
such
as
Bikita,
Gokwe
and
Gutu
had
previously
been
brought
under
control,
although
sporadic
outbreaks
still
occur.

Efforts
to
fully
contain
the
disease
have
been
hampered
by
vaccine
shortages.

“Normally
we
follow
initial
vaccination
with
a
booster
after
a
month,
but
we
could
not
do
that
due
to
limited
vaccine
supplies,”
Dr
Makaya
said,
noting
that
Zimbabwe
is
expecting
new
doses
from
Botswana.

Authorities
hope
that
once
vaccines
arrive,
they
will
resume
mass
vaccination
campaigns,
particularly
around
conservancies
and
national
parks.

In
the
meantime,
the
government
has
introduced
containment
measures,
including
movement
restrictions,
roadblocks
and
tighter
monitoring
of
livestock
transport.

Officials
are
also
working
to
reduce
contact
between
livestock
and
wildlife
by
constructing
fencing
in
areas
such
as
Gonarezhou
National
Park,
with
plans
to
extend
similar
measures
to
Hwange
National
Park.

Dr
Makaya
said
awareness
campaigns
and
training
on
biosecurity
are
also
being
intensified
among
farmers
and
stakeholders
across
livestock
value
chains.

“We
must
maintain
our
current
status
and
prevent
further
spread,”
he
said.
“If
we
secure
vaccines
and
strengthen
our
response,
we
can
resume
trade
soon.”

The
Bill,
which,
among
other
things,
seeks
to
extend
the
terms
of
the
president,
MPs,
and
councillors
from
five
to
seven
years,
has
sparked
a
wave
of
intimidation
against
activists
and
civic
leaders.

Several
people,
including
law
professor
Lovemore
Madhuku,
have
been
assaulted
by
unknown
assailants,
allegedly
as
police
looked
on.

Ethan
Mathibela,
chairperson
of
the
Zimbabwe
National
Liberation
War
Veterans
Association
(ZNLWVA),
told Zimbabwe
Independent that
any
constitutional
change
must
be
driven
by
the
people,
not
the
elites.

Mathibela
added
that
war
veterans
are
stepping
up
efforts
to
reach
grassroots
communities
and
urged
all
Zimbabweans,
from
every
walk
of
life,
to
defend
the
Constitution.
Said
Mathibela:

“Constitutional
defence
is
a
national
duty.
This
is
not
solely
the
responsibility
of
opposition
parties.

“While
the
opposition
plays
a
role,
civil
society,
war
veterans,
churches
and
ordinary
citizens
must
collectively
rise
to
the
occasion.
The
issue
transcends
party
politics.

“We
believe
regional
bodies,
such
as
SADC,
have
a
responsibility
to
uphold
democratic
principles
in
member
states.

“Engagement
is
important,
but
ultimately,
the
protection
of
the
constitution
rests
with
Zimbabweans
themselves.
SADC
can
support,
but
it
cannot
substitute
the
will
of
the
people.

“The
level
of
public
engagement
so
far
has
been
inadequate.
Many
citizens
remain
unaware
of
the
full
implications
of
the
Bill.

“Our
association
is
intensifying
efforts
to
reach
grassroots
communities,
ensuring
that
people
understand
what
is
at
stake
and
can
participate
meaningfully.”

The
section
forms
part
of
the
wider
66.5km
Harare–Seke–Zvipadze
Road,
which
authorities
say
will
eventually
be
expanded
from
the
Harare
Main
Post
Office
to
the
Ten
Miles
area
in
Marondera.

In
a
statement
issued
on
Thursday,
19
March,
the
Ministry
of
Transport
and
Infrastructural
Development
said
work
on
this
section
is
expected
to
begin
soon.
It
said:

“Site
hand-over
is
currently
underway
for
the
rehabilitation
and
widening
of
Seke
Road,
covering
a
16km
stretch
running
from
Velvet
to
ZRP
Dema.

“This
key
infrastructure
upgrade
underscores
the
Government’s
continued
efforts
and
firm
commitment
to
modernising
the
country’s
road
network,
improving
traffic
flow,
and
enhancing
road
safety.”

Recently,
pothole
patching
works
were
carried
out
along
the
stretch
from
the
Unit
H
turn-off
to
Makoni
Shopping
Centre
in
Chitungwiza,
just
a
short
distance
from
Velvet.

In
a
statement
on
Wednesday,
1
March
2026,
GMB
said
the
funds
are
part
of
ongoing
efforts
to
ensure
farmers
are
paid
on
time
and
to
maintain
confidence
in
Zimbabwe’s
grain
marketing
system.
GMB
said:

“The
Grain
Marketing
Board
(GMB)
is
delighted
to
announce
receipt
of
ZWG
60
million
and
USD
5
million
from
the
Treasury,
representing
consecutive
disbursements
over
the
past
two
weeks,
for
timely
payments
to
farmers.

“This
brings
total
cumulative
payments
for
wheat
deliveries
to
ZWG
250
million
and
USD
30
million.

“This
vital
funding
brings
much-needed
relief
to
farmers.
The
support
underscores
the
Government’s
steadfast
commitment
to
agriculture,
a
key
sector
driving
Zimbabwe’s
economy.”

GMB
promises
14-30
day
payments,
but
Treasury
funding
lags
cause
delays,
eroding
farmer
confidence
in
the
official
market.

The
MIF
is
tasked
with
managing
and
commercialising
government-owned
enterprises.

The
move
was
formalised
through
Statutory
Instrument
58
of
2026,
published
in
a
supplement
to
the
Government
Gazette
on
20
March.

The
89%
state-owned
steelmaker,
which
has
been
idle
for
18
years,
now
falls
directly
under
the
MIF
alongside
its
previous
preferred
suitor,
Kuvimba
Mining
House.

At
its
peak
in
the
late
1980s
and
1990s,
ZISCOSTEEL
produced
up
to
1.2
million
tonnes
of
steel
a
year,
employed
more
than
5,500
people
directly,
and
supported
an
estimated
50,000
jobs
in
downstream
industries
such
as
construction,
engineering,
and
manufacturing.

Land
for
the
proposed
conservancy
has
already
been
identified
and
a
nine-member
committee
chaired
by
the
chief
has
been
set
up
to
drive
the
project.

The
committee
includes
local
headmen
and
key
stakeholders
as
well
as
a
renowned
conservationist
serving
in
an
advisory
capacity.

In
an
interview
with
CITE
in
Hwange
Thursday,
Chief
Nelukoba
said
the
initiative
is
at
an
advanced
stage
with
the
committee
scheduled
to
meet
officials
from
the
Zimbabwe
Parks
and
Wildlife
Management
Authority
(ZimParks),
including
Director
General
Professor
Edson
Gandiwa
in
Harare
next
week.

“This
is
a
community-driven
initiative
that
is
long
overdue.
We
have
already
laid
the
groundwork
and
what
remains
now
is
to
engage
with
ZimParks
to
finalise
the
operational
framework,”
said
the
chief.

The
conservancy,
believed
to
be
the
first
of
its
kind
in
Zimbabwe
will
allow
the
community
to
directly
benefit
from
natural
resources.

Under
the
proposed
model,
the
community
through
the
committee
will
be
allocated
fishing
and
cruise
quotas
at
the
planned
Gwayi/Shangani
dam,
ensuring
sustainable
utilisation
of
the
area’s
wildlife
and
water
resources.

Importantly,
proceeds
from
the
project
are
expected
to
fund
development
initiatives
both
locally
and
across
the
province.

“This
project
is
not
just
about
conservation.
Revenue
generated
will
be
channelled
towards
improving
livelihoods,
supporting
community
infrastructure
and
contributing
to
broader
provincial
development,”
said
the
Chief.

A
community
consultation
meeting
is
scheduled
for
March
19
at
Cross
Mabale
where
residents
are
expected
to
provide
input
and
shape
the
direction
of
the
initiative.

The
chief
highlighted
that
the
conservancy
is
also
a
direct
response
to
increasing
cases
of
human-wildlife
conflict
in
the
area
which
have
severely
affected
local
livelihoods.

“We
are
facing
serious
challenges
with
wildlife.
Since
the
beginning
of
the
year,
more
than
40
cattle
and
goats
have
been
lost
to
animals
such
as
lions
and
jackals,”
he
said.

Chief
Nelukoba
added
that
he
has
personally
suffered
losses,
underscoring
the
urgency
of
finding
sustainable
solutions.

“I
have
not
been
spared
either.
I
have
lost
livestock
myself.
There
is
a
dam
near
my
homestead
and
wild
animals
frequently
come
there
to
drink
but
in
the
process,
they
end
up
attacking
our
livestock,”
he
said.

Despite
the
challenges,
the
chief
urged
communities
to
adopt
a
balanced
approach
to
coexistence
with
wildlife.

“There
is
no
running
away
from
nature.
We
must
learn
to
live
together
harmoniously
with
wildlife.
Initiatives
like
this
conservancy
are
key
to
address
these
conflicts
while
ensuring
that
communities
also
benefit,”
he
said.

If
successful,
the
project
could
serve
as
a
model
for
other
rural
communities
across
Zimbabwe,
demonstrating
how
conservation
and
development
can
go
hand
in
hand.