adminSamuel Kadungure Senior Reporter
A serious foot-and-mouth disease outbreak is looming in Manicaland amid revelations that buffaloes are straying from Save Conservancy into adjacent Middle Sabi communities following the vandalism of the double line boundary fence.
The situation has been worsened by farmers who are also driving their cattle in the conservancy in search of pastures, thereby putting their cattle in a serious danger of contracting the disease.
Animal health experts told a provincial livestock workshop organised by GOAL Zimbabwe in Mutare on Tuesday that outbreaks can occur if a carrier buffalo or infected animals from the redline area are moved illegally into other parts of the community where animals are not being vaccinated against FMD.
FMD is present in most buffaloes, though host animals do not show signs of the disease. Chances are that they may infect other animals in the conservancy and the surrounding farming areas.
Farmers in the areas surrounding area risk suffering huge losses.
FMD is very contagious and spreads rapidly among animals, making it difficult to control, even by using vaccines.
Acting provincial veterinary officer for Manicaland, Dr Charles Guri, decried the situation in Middle Sabi as a breeding ground for “serious disaster”.
The sad news is coming at a time the cattle death toll in Chipinge district has surpassed 3 000.
Cattle are dying at an alarming rate due to a combination of feed and water shortages as well as exposure to diseases.
“We have 70 000 cattle at risk. We have quarantine measures in place as we cannot afford to endanger 420 000 cattle in other parts of the province.
“We have restricted movement of these cattle to the north. We are only issuing movement permits to the southern parts towards Masvingo where three districts have also been affected.
“Buffaloes should not mix with cattle. What is happening is a disaster in the making. Buffaloes are roaming freely there and some are being killed by villagers. There are nearly 3 000 buffaloes in the Save Conservancy and 300 are wreaking havoc in Middle Sabi. We should be prepared for a disaster in Chipinge. The 70 000 cattle in farmlands and communities are in serious danger. The situation has been compounded by the fact that we are not dipping. It is a huge disaster if we fail to vaccinate.
“The double fence between Save Conservancy and the community has been destroyed and farmers are also taking advantage to drive their cattle into the conservancy in search of pastures. No one is willing to repair the fence. The conservancy owners are blaming villagers for vandalising the fence. This is not an ideal situation, that fence must be repaired,” said Dr Guri.
“FMD is caused by a germ called a virus, found in all body secretions of infected buffaloes, making the situation in Middle Sabi a breeding ground for disaster. Worse, we do not have vaccines and not vaccinating, and the main control measure is to issue permits to Masvingo only,” Dr Guri.
This disease is called foot-and-mouth disease because sick animals mostly get sores on their feet and in their mouths. They may show signs like blisters that are of different sizes and filled with fluid in the mouth, mostly on the tongue. The blisters burst open and leave raw sores, which are usually painful for the animals and they may not eat. These animals will lose condition.
Farmers from the adjacent communities are driving their cattle into the conservancy, thereby compromising the strict control measures often used to prevent FMD from infecting farm animals.
FMD is controlled by limiting movement of animals by the use of legal movement permits and vaccinations.
The vaccinated cattle act as a shield to prevent the disease from spreading to farm animals.
Chipinge District is a controlled zone that stretches to Chiredzi due to its proneness to the dangerous anthrax and foot and mouth diseases and as a result cattle movement to other districts is prohibited.
Farmers in the area can only sell or barter trade within the controlled zone, resulting in cattle prices plummeting to as little as $20.
Manicaland Provincial Administrator, Mr Fungai Mbetsa, described the situation in the province as dire.
“3 000 cattle have died there as a result of the current climatic conditions. The figures are devastating. Farmers are incurring huge losses as a result of the deaths. This is mainly affecting communal farmers who cannot afford such losses. It is a disaster and at times we need to advise them to strategically destock and use the money to maintain the breeding stock,” said Mr Mbetsa,
The worst affected areas are Kondo, Maronga, Dumisayi, Mwacheta, Masimbe, Chibuwe, Maunganidze, Bangwe, Musani, Tanganda, Manesa, Mutema, Rimbi, Gumira, Manzvire, Chisavanye, Mariya, Rimai, Madhuku, Chisumbanje, Vheneka, Chinyamukwakwa, Mabee, Chisuma and Maparadze.
Acting Provincial Livestock Production and Development Officer for Manicaland, Mr Joshua Zveutete, described the situation as dire, but was quick to applaud the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for intervening with stock feeds to curtail more cattle deaths.
“So far FAO has intervened in the most affected areas, helping farmers with stock feeds in a bid to reduce cattle deaths. We are appealing to DDF to come to the farmers’ rescue through rehabilitation and sinking of boreholes. There is need to fund the construction of water troughs at water points. NGOs can also chip in,” said Mr Zvoutete.
Chipinge Rural District Council acting chief executive officer, Mr Blessing Mamvosha, said cattle were starving to death daily and the deaths could be more than those reported.
He attributed the deaths to water and feed shortages as well as diseases.
Last year, the district did not receive good rains, resulting in poor pastures.
This year the rain came late in December when the pastures had been strained and struggling to grow.
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