adminAshley Mujoma
GOVERNMENT has officially launched a countrywide war against January Disease to protect the national herd.
The programme was launched at Venice Dip Tank in Kadoma yesterday by permanent secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr John Basera.
He encouraged the dipping of all cattle to avoid transmission of the deadly disease.
“We urge all farmers around the country to dip all their cattle every week to avoid this deadly disease which is killing cattle.
“All farmers who resist the cattle dip tank will be prosecuted by traditional leaders and the Ministry,” he said.
Basera encouraged people to report anyone who refuses to dip their cattle to traditional leaders.
“We have to work together and fight this disease together. We urge you as farmers to report immediately to traditional heads when you encounter cases where a neighbour or someone you know is not following the dip tank agreement.
“Traditional heads will deal with those culprits, and if they continue being defiant, the Minister will take action on those people,” he said.
He said more than 65 percent cattle deaths in the country were attributed to tick-borne diseases, including January Disease.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter