Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba [email protected]
VILLAGERS in Vungu Constituency under Chief Sogwala in Lower Gweru, Midlands Province, are counting heavy losses following a livestock disease outbreak that has decimated cattle herds, deprived households of crucial draught power and forced desperate farmers to sell surviving animals at distress prices.
An outbreak of January Disease, also known as theileriosis, and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) has reportedly caused significant losses since the beginning of the year, with some households losing more than 10 cattle as farmers struggle to protect the animals that remain.
Chief Sogwala said the situation was becoming increasingly alarming despite efforts by the Department of Veterinary Services to educate farmers and promote livestock dipping.
“There is an outbreak of January Disease and herds are depleting. They are finished. Some have had more than 15 cattle dying, while others have lost more than 20,” he said.
Chief Sogwala said Government needed to urgently assess the extent of the livestock losses and strengthen interventions to curb further deaths.
He said the outbreak was also threatening food security in communities where cattle remain central to agricultural production.
“The shortage of dipping chemicals has become a major concern for farmers who rely on communal dip tanks to control ticks, which transmit diseases such as January Disease,” said Chief Sogwala.
“Some got good harvests, some did not get good harvests. Some have food, especially those in the farming areas who got enough yields, but we have a challenge in some villages.”
For many farmers, the losses extend far beyond the value of the animals themselves.
Mr Charles Sibanda from Ward 9 said some farmers whose herds had been severely affected since January were resorting to distress sales, disposing of their remaining cattle at low prices before the diseases claimed more animals.
“The situation has also raised concerns over the loss of draught animals at a time when communal farmers rely on cattle to prepare fields and transport agricultural produce,” he said.
“The livestock losses remain the most immediate threat and we are now appealing for urgent intervention to protect the animals that remain and rebuild herds devastated by the outbreak.”
Vungu legislator Mr Brown Ndlovu confirmed the impact of both diseases, saying farmers were struggling to contain the outbreaks, particularly FMD.
“It is very unfortunate that farmers are fighting a losing battle, especially with Foot-and-Mouth Disease, which has ravaged Wards 3, 9 and others,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said efforts were underway to ensure adequate supplies of dipping chemicals for communal farmers.
“There is a challenge of dipping chemicals faced by farmers which we are trying to address as a matter of urgency. These cattle need to be dipped at least once after five or six days. So efforts are underway to make sure there are chemicals at the communal dip tanks,” he said.
January Disease is a tick-borne cattle disease that can cause high mortality rates, particularly where prevention and early treatment measures are inadequate.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals and can severely disrupt livestock production, movement and cattle marketing.
Mr Ndlovu said the combined impact of the two diseases was threatening the broader rural economy by reducing the number of cattle available for breeding, draught power and sale.
“The twin outbreak is therefore threatening not only household livestock assets but also the wider rural economy, with fewer cattle available for breeding, draught power and sale,” he said.
Beyond the livestock crisis, Chief Sogwala said communities in the constituency were also grappling with rising cases of violence, murder, and drug and substance abuse, which he attributed to an influx of artisanal miners searching for gold in the area.
“We have mines where people are coming from all over the country. They are coming here to prospect for gold, and these are the people who are driving the high rate of murders and violence,” he said.
He said police and traditional leaders were conducting awareness campaigns at mining sites to tackle drug and substance abuse and other social challenges.
“Police and traditional leaders are visiting mines doing campaigns against drug and substance abuse, which have become a menace in the area,” said Chief Sogwala.
