Muchaneta Chimuka
The Government, through the Department of Veterinary Services, has stepped up efforts to help farmers in Mashonaland Central Province following reports of cattle deaths linked to tick-borne diseases, with water shortages and poor infrastructure at some dip tanks compounding the problem.
The intervention is part of broader efforts to strengthen livestock disease prevention and control, safeguard the national herd, protect farmers’ livelihoods and improve livestock productivity.
Farmers in affected areas have raised concerns over cattle losses and challenges in maintaining effective tick control due to non-functional dip tanks.
Bindura farmer Mr Charles Munoka said he had received reports of cattle deaths on his farm, blaming the lack of a functional dip tank for making disease prevention more difficult.
“I have just received a call from my farm workers that we lost two cattle due to the disease, and the main challenge is our dip tank is no longer functional; hence, we are just using tick grease and manual spraying, but that is not as effective as dipping,” he said.
Mr Munoka said effective cattle dipping required a coordinated community effort, with all farmers ensuring their cattle were treated to reduce the risk of disease recurring.
Chief Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Dr Pious Makaya, said January Disease is scientifically known as Theileriosis, a tick-borne disease that mainly affects cattle.
He said the fight against January Disease requires collective responsibility between Government, Veterinary Extension Officers and livestock farmers.
“It is caused by a blood parasite transmitted through the brown ear tick, commonly referred to as the blue tick. It is one of the four major tick-borne diseases affecting cattle in Zimbabwe, alongside Babesiosis (Redwater), Anaplasmosis (Gallsickness) and Heartwater,” he said.
Dr Makaya said Mashonaland Central Province has received reports of tick-borne diseases and the situation is under control.
“There are some isolated cases that are continuing to be recorded, particularly in areas where farmers have not been consistently presenting their cattle for dipping in accordance with the schedules prescribed by the Directorate of Veterinary Services,” he said.
“The Government, through the Directorate of Veterinary Services, has implemented several interventions to reduce tick infestations and tick-borne disease infections across the country,” he said.
He highlighted some of the strides by the Government to curb the disease burden.
“Mashonaland Central Province has a total of 354 dip tanks, of which 56 have been identified as experiencing perennial water challenges. Government has been prioritising interventions to address these water challenges to ensure the continuity of dipping services,” he said.
“The Directorate of Veterinary Services has rehabilitated 69 out of the targeted 80 dip tanks in Mashonaland Central Province to improve the functionality of dipping infrastructure and ensure farmers have access to regular dipping services.”
He said, while some dip tanks continue to experience operational challenges, Government remains committed to restoring and maintaining the national dipping infrastructure.
“Over the past 24 months, the Government has been implementing an integrated tick and tick-borne disease control strategy, which has contributed to a significant reduction in the incidence of tick-borne diseases nationally,” he said.
“The strategy focuses on regular dipping, improved access to acaricides, dip tank rehabilitation, vaccination in identified disease hotspots, and strengthened farmer awareness,” he said.
He added that the Government has ensured a consistent supply of acaricides to dip tanks across the country, including Mashonaland Central Province, and encouraged farmers to present their cattle for dipping whenever Veterinary Extension Officers conduct scheduled dipping sessions.
“Regular dipping remains one of the most effective measures for preventing tick infestations and controlling January Disease,” he said.
“As part of the integrated control strategy, the Government, through the Central Veterinary Laboratory, has been producing vaccines against major tick-borne diseases.
“These include the Theileria BOLVAC vaccine, as well as vaccines against Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis. The vaccines are intended to support targeted vaccination programmes in identified tick-borne disease hotspots across the country,” he said.
Dr Makaya said the Directorate of Veterinary Services will continue to strengthen farmer education through Veterinary Extension Officers, social media platforms and electronic He said farmers should also promptly report any suspected cases of January Disease, including cattle showing signs of fever, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite or sudden deterioration in health.
