Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
A planned cattle auction at the ongoing second edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Livestock Conference in Bulawayo has been cancelled due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), underscoring the growing threat posed by the highly contagious livestock disease across the region.
The decision to halt the auction comes amid heightened concerns over the spread of FMD, which affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, goats and pigs and has severe economic implications due to trade restrictions, loss of productivity and costly control measures.
Speaking at the conference, Bulawayo Agricultural Society president Mr Promise Ncube said the outbreak had forced organisers to take precautionary measures to avoid further spread of the disease.
“We meet at a moment of undeniable urgency. Our sub-region is battling widespread foot and mouth disease outbreaks that ignore borders and define jurisdictions,” he said.
“From South Africa to Namibia, Botswana and right here in Zimbabwe. We have actually just cancelled the cattle auction tomorrow because of the foot and mouth disease.
“The situation is a stark reminder that diseases do not differentiate between communal heads and communal operations.”
Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the most feared livestock diseases globally due to its rapid transmission through direct contact, contaminated equipment, vehicles and even airborne spread under certain conditions.
Outbreaks often result in quarantines, movement restrictions and in some cases culling of infected and at-risk animals, leading to significant losses for farmers and disruption of entire value chains.
Mr Ncube drew parallels between FMD and global health crises, warning that failure to act collectively could have devastating consequences.
“Like the COVID-19 pandemic that affected both the rich and the poor, the learned and the not so learned alike, livestock diseases are exactly the same.
“We all therefore collectively need to put our heads together to tackle them lest we all perish.”
The cancellation of the auction has highlighted the vulnerability of the livestock sector, particularly at a time when stakeholders are seeking to strengthen value chains and boost productivity.
Experts have emphasised the need for enhanced surveillance, strict biosecurity measures, vaccination programmes and regional cooperation to curb the spread of FMD and safeguard the livestock industry, which remains a critical pillar of Zimbabwe’s agricultural economy.
