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Tawanda Mangoma
MWENEZI District has been hit by a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, a development that has seen government imposing restrictions on cattle movement in a bid to contain its spread.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister Responsible for Animal Husbandry, Cde Paddy Zhanda said public cattle auctions have also been stopped in the area following the outbreak two weeks ago.

Cde Zhanda told Chronicle that a team from the Veterinary Services Department has already been deployed to fight the deadly infectious disease.

“A team from the Veterinary Services Department has already been deployed to Mwenezi District. It was deployed a few days after receiving reports of foot-and-mouth disease. They have enough vaccinations for all the cattle and our major aim is to deny the disease from spreading into other districts such as Zaka, Chiredzi and Bikita. These districts have also been prone to outbreaks but this time our reaction has been effective and we are managing the situation,” said Cde Zhanda.

“Masvingo Province has districts which we regard as hot zones. We have, however, restricted livestock movement in and out of Mwenezi District as we try to prevent the spread of the disease to other districts in the lowveld.”

He said the fight against the outbreak requires everyone to respect the ministry’s rules and regulations such as stopping cattle auctions for now.

He described the disease as a threat to the national herd. It is a deadly infectious disease that affects animals and can infect people too.

It can be contained through vaccination, quarantine and sometimes killing of animals.

Last year Mwenezi, Zaka, Chiredzi and Bikita districts were affected by foot-and-mouth and anthrax which saw more than 5,000 head of cattle being affected.