THE government has intensified efforts to protect Zimbabwe’s livestock industry from the threat of foot and mouth disease (FMD) with the launch of a national vaccination campaign in Masvingo this Saturday.
The initiative follows recent reports of outbreaks in Gutu, Bikita and Buhera districts, raising concerns among farmers about the security of their herds. The programme was officially rolled out at Zivave Diptank in Masvingo North Constituency, where farmers expressed appreciation for the government’s timely intervention.
“We want to thank the government for the timely intervention. The disease was reported in Gutu and Buhera, and we were fearing for our cattle, given that previously we lost a lot from drought and January disease,” a beneficiary of the programme said.
“We are happy that this is a national programme that has been launched, and it means our national herd will be protected. We will now be able to trade amongst ourselves and even beyond our borders freely, without restrictions, if our herd is protected,” another beneficiary noted.
Chief Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Pious Makaya, said the government is committed to ensuring that the disease is contained.
“The government has secured enough vaccines to protect our cattle against Foot and Mouth disease, and they are coming in batches. We have started with Masvingo, and we are also targeting Manicaland and Matabeleland South Province. We are on the ground to make sure all affected and at-risk areas are covered. Protecting the national herd is key to safeguarding livelihoods and strengthening food security,” The Minister said.
Masvingo Province, home to the largest cattle herd in the country, remains a strategic hub in Zimbabwe’s livestock sector.
“The vaccination programme was a timely intervention that will continue until the entire herd is safeguarded. We call upon all our farmers to cooperate and ensure their cattle are vaccinated. The government will continue to support farmers with sustained interventions to ensure Masvingo’s cattle, which form the backbone of the national herd, are protected,” Permanent Secretary Masvingo Province, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa noted
Beyond the immediate animal health benefits, the vaccination drive carries significant business and economic implications.
By curbing foot and mouth disease, the programme will safeguard Zimbabwe’s beef exports, secure household incomes derived from cattle sales, and preserve access to markets both locally and internationally.
