Muchaneta Chimuka
LIVESTOCK farmers in Ward 24 of Matobo District, Matabeleland South, have established Gali Diptank through a community-led initiative supported by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS).
The facility, commissioned on Thursday, is expected to improve access to livestock health services for 156 farmers who own a combined 642 cattle.
Previously, farmers had to travel up to 10km to access dipping facilities, making regular cattle dipping and the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases difficult.
Farmers mobilised resources to establish the facility, with DVS providing technical guidance and construction materials, including fencing wire and 15 bags of cement.
The commissioning ceremony was officiated by Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Albert Nguluvhe and attended by traditional leaders, Government officials, veterinary personnel and community members.
Matabeleland South Provincial Veterinary Director Dr Enat Mdlongwa commended the farmers for taking ownership of livestock health infrastructure development.
“The availability of a dipping facility must translate into improved cattle dipping compliance and reduced losses from tick-borne diseases,” he said.
“We urge all livestock owners to ensure that every eligible animal is presented for dipping according to the prescribed dipping schedule. Effective tick control requires collective participation.”
Dr Mdlongwa urged traditional leaders and the dip committee to work with veterinary extension officers to ensure cattle were dipped regularly.
He said the initiative demonstrated how communities could complement Government efforts to improve animal health services, protect livestock assets, boost cattle productivity and strengthen rural livelihoods.
He said the Gali Diptank initiative demonstrates that meaningful rural development can be achieved when farmers, local leadership, Government and private-sector partners work together towards a common goal.
“Beyond controlling ticks and tick-borne diseases, the facility will contribute towards protecting household livestock assets, improving cattle productivity and strengthening rural livelihoods,” he said.
“The development also complements the Government’s ongoing efforts to improve livestock health infrastructure and reduce cattle mortality under the national livestock development agenda.
“As the President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa always says: ‘Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo! Ilizwe Lakhiwa Ngabanikazi Balo.”
He said it is their duty to restore the dignity of cattle and to fulfil the Government’s Vision 2030 mantra of becoming an Upper Middle–Income Society by 2030 and to become game changers through the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2: 2026 – 2030).
“Under the NDS2, agriculture is not for subsistence. It is for business, industrialisation, wealth creation, and livestock is singled out as a key driver,” he said.
“The NDS2 targets increasing the national herd from 5.6 million to 6 million cattle, to reduce cattle mortality from over 10 percent to below 5 percent, to establish rural livestock business centres, to transform communal cattle from social status to bankable assets.
“We can only achieve the 6 million cattle if we eradicate tick-borne diseases and the tick itself.”
The Directorate of Veterinary Services congratulated the Gali farming community for this outstanding initiative and encouraged other communities across Zimbabwe to emulate this collective action.
The event was graced by representatives from Matabeleland North Province, represented by CAHI, and key private-sector partners including Coopers, Blue Cross Agrodealer and Chemplex. Their participation highlighted the importance of collaboration between Government, farming communities, and the private sector in strengthening livestock health service delivery.
Meanwhile, the Government is targeting to rehabilitate 600 dip tanks nationally and to date, 480 has been reconstructed.
