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Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Correspondent
THE Government has suspended the importation of live cloven-hoofed animals from South Africa following the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in the neighbouring country.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development announced the suspension in a statement on Thursday. Cloven hoofed animals include cattle, deer, pigs, antelopes, gazelles, goats and sheep.
“The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development wishes to advise the public and stakeholders that all imports of live cloven-hooved animals and their products from the Republic of South Africa have been suspended with immediate effect until further notice.
“This follows the recent announcement by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development that South Africa is battling 56 outbreaks of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), on farms and in communal areas in the Free State, Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West and Gauteng provinces,” reads the statement
Foot and mouth disease is a transboundary animal disease that is easily transmitted from one region to the other through illegal movement of infected regions or countries.
It is against this that the Minister called for maximum cooperation in order to protect the country.
“The Minister is requesting maximum cooperation from all stakeholders to eliminate the risk of entry of infected animals and animal products in Zimbabwe.
It is important that everyone respects all imposed control measures to collectively protect our territory.
“The outbreaks currently troubling South Africa were caused by illegal movements of animals out of FMD control zones in Limpopo.
The damages caused by FMD outbreaks have a negative impact on trade and the economy of the country, as well as the individual livestock owners.”
The Minister, in terms of the Animal Health Act (Chapter 19:01), further suspended the issuance of permits to import live cloven-hoofed animals and their products while all unused permits have been cancelled forthwith. – @nyeve14
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