Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare-Herald Correspondent
MORE than 800 000 cattle-owning households have benefited from Government-led disease prevention programmes anchored on locally-produced vaccines.
The development has significantly strengthened Zimbabwe’s capacity to protect its national herd as the 2025/26 rainy season heightens the risk of tick-borne disease outbreaks.
The shift to domestic vaccine production has ensured timely availability during peak risk periods, reduced reliance on costly imports and expanded protection to vulnerable farming communities.
According to the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), at least 100 000 cattle have already been vaccinated in disease hotspot areas using locally manufactured vaccines, allowing rapid deployment to districts experiencing high tick pressure.
Before the establishment of local vaccine production, Zimbabwe required up to
US$6 million to stockpile sufficient vaccines to cover the national herd, a cost that often constrained coverage and delayed response during outbreaks.
The localisation of vaccine manufacturing has since eased fiscal pressure while enabling wider and more consistent disease control.
The rainy season exposes livestock to four major tick-borne diseases — Theileriosis (January Disease), Babesiosis (Redwater), Anaplasmosis (Gall Sickness) and Cowdriosis (Heartwater) — all of which have historically caused heavy losses when control measures are inadequate.
National livestock health records show that more than 15 000 cattle were lost between 2014 and 2020 due to tick-borne diseases, underlining the severe economic and livelihood risks faced by rural households dependent on livestock.
In an interview, DVS chief director, Dr Pious Makaya, said local vaccine production has transformed disease control efforts, particularly against Theileriosis.
“The availability of locally produced vaccines, especially Theileria BOLVAC, has enabled us to protect cattle in high-risk areas efficiently,” Dr Makaya said.
“Over 60 000 cattle have already been vaccinated in 25 hotspots, while another 40 000 have been inoculated against Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis.”
He said the vaccination drive forms part of the broader Integrated Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease Control Programme, which serves more than 800 000 livestock-owning families nationwide through vaccination, dipping and disease surveillance.
Government has also prioritised the rehabilitation and expansion of dip infrastructure, targeting full functionality of 4 211 dip tanks, alongside plans to construct 40 new dip tanks and rehabilitate 200 existing facilities in 2026.
To support farmers in remote and water-scarce areas, pour-on acaricides have been distributed to 8 000 households, while 20 boreholes are being drilled at strategic dip tanks to ensure uninterrupted operations during the rainy season.
Dr Makaya said farmer compliance remains critical to sustaining the gains being made.
“Local vaccines give us a strong foundation, but farmer cooperation through regular dipping and early disease reporting is essential to protect the national herd and food security,” he said.
