adminIvan Zhakata
Huge strides have been made by the Government in controlling tsetse flies that had wreaked havoc in the peripheries of the Mashonaland West province making people keep less livestock.
In a bid to boost the livestock sector in the country, the Government has embarked on programmes to control and eventually eliminate Tsetse flies with the aim of having a Tsetse free country in 2024.
Chief Chundu, real name Abel Mbasera from the Nyamakati area, said he was happy that the area was tsetse free due to the Government efforts through the Tsetse Control Division to control and eventually eliminate Tsetse in his area.
“Our area is surrounded by animals. The work that the Tsetse Control Division is doing is making us live in harmony with animals. People can now rear cattle and be able to send their children to school, take care of their families and farm because they have cattle.
“We no longer have Tsetse in this area and this is a huge development in our area because we used to keep two oxen only. All the Tsetse targets are trapping nothing which means we do not have Tsetse flies in this area. Our community is now able to get milk from cows and our people’s livelihoods have improved,” he said.
A farmer Mrs Lilian Chinyanda from Nyamakati said she was happy that the area was tsetse free and she can now keep more cattle.
“Back then we were only allowed to keep two oxen and when one died you would not be able to farm because you would have one cow. We would like to thank the Tsetse Control Division for eliminating Tsetse in this area and we are now able to keep more cattle,” she said.
Mr Tawanda Barra from Delta Village said he was excited with the work that the Tsetse Control Division was doing in eliminating tsetse flies in their area.
“We cannot say we no longer have Tsetse in the area but they are now few. It is now different from what it was in the past. I am now able to keep livestock with no worries about having them attacked by Tsetse flies,” he said.
Mrs Matha Kapesa echoed the same sentiments and said, “We used to be afraid of Tsetse flies but we are now with the work the Tsetse Control Division is doing of deploying targets to make sure that there are no Tsetse flies in our area. We would like to thank the Government for such an initiative.”
Mrs Irene Mutinhima said she can now increase her livestock without getting worried of tsetse flies.
“This is now a good opportunity to keep more cattle because there are no more tsetse flies. We no longer have to be worried of tsetse infested diseases like sleeping sickness and hope to contribute to the agricultural development of our country,” she said.
Online Reporter