Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE and Botswana have jointly vaccinated over 72 000 cattle in Matabeleland South Province against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) under a coordinated five-day cross-border campaign aimed at containing transboundary animal diseases and protecting the region’s livestock sector.
The exercise, conducted by veterinary teams from both countries, targeted cattle in the border districts of Gwanda, Beitbridge, Matobo and Mangwe, areas considered highly susceptible to the spread of livestock diseases due to frequent animal movement across the Zimbabwe-Botswana boundary.
Botswana donated 100 000 doses of FMD vaccine to Zimbabwe, with 72 227 cattle vaccinated out of a targeted 78 034 during the campaign, which ran from Saturday to Wednesday.
The programme is part of a bilateral comprehensive strategy and memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries to control FMD along the shared border stretching from Plumtree to Beitbridge.
Under the agreement, cattle on the Zimbabwean side within a 40-kilometre radius of the border are vaccinated annually in two rounds conducted 28 days apart, with both countries contributing towards vaccine procurement.
The collaboration comes at a time when Southern African countries are intensifying efforts to contain livestock diseases that threaten food security, farmer livelihoods and regional trade. FMD remains one of the most economically damaging livestock diseases because outbreaks often result in movement restrictions, market closures and export bans.
Zimbabwe has, in recent years, recorded sporadic outbreaks of FMD, particularly in Matabeleland South Province, where communal grazing systems and proximity to wildlife corridors increase the risk of transmission.
Speaking during a meeting marking the end of the first round of the vaccination campaign in Gwanda yesterday, Matabeleland South provincial veterinary director Dr Enat Mdlongwa said the programme had achieved significant success.
“The foot-and-mouth vaccination campaign is a bilateral programme which involves the governments of Zimbabwe and Botswana. We have collaborated in a bid to try and control transboundary diseases and this programme was particularly targeting foot-and-mouth disease,” he said.
“We received 100 000 doses of FMD vaccine from the Botswana government. We vaccinated 72 227 animals in Mangwe, Matobo, Gwanda and Beitbridge districts. We recorded a 93 percent coverage of the targeted 78 034 animals.”
Dr Mdlongwa said cooperation between Zimbabwe and Botswana is critical in controlling FMD and other animal diseases that easily spread across borders.
He said the remaining vaccine doses will be used during the second phase of the campaign, expected next month.
Speaking at the same event, Botswana embassy representative, Ms Banabotlhe Kesianye Mello, said the partnership reflects the strong bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.
“The FMD vaccination campaign reflects the strong cooperation and collaboration between Botswana and Zimbabwe in safeguarding the livestock sector as well as protecting farmers’ livelihoods. Through this joint effort, our two countries continue to demonstrate the importance of the strong bilateral relations that we have established,” she said.
Ms Mello said regional cooperation was critical in responding effectively to livestock disease outbreaks, adding that FMD continues to affect several countries in the Southern African region.
“The campaign is an important step towards containing the spread of FMD and strengthening animal health systems in our region. FMD has not only affected our two countries but has also spread across the region,” she said.
Ms Mello urged farmers and communities to continue cooperating with veterinary authorities during vaccination exercises and disease surveillance programmes.
An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was reported in Mangwe District earlier this year, prompting veterinary authorities to impose quarantine measures and intensify surveillance to curb further spread.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and pigs. It spreads rapidly through direct contact between animals, contaminated equipment, infected vehicles and human movement between farms.
Once outbreaks are detected, authorities often impose strict control measures including livestock movement restrictions, closure of cattle markets and temporary bans on the export of livestock and related products.
For farmers, the restrictions can result in severe economic losses as they are unable to sell livestock or access markets, disrupting household income and broader value chains linked to the livestock sector.
The Government has continued to intensify vaccination campaigns, surveillance and border controls as part of broader efforts to protect the national herd and restore confidence in livestock production.
With sustained vaccination, farmer compliance and regional cooperation, veterinary authorities say they are optimistic that FMD outbreaks can be effectively controlled.-@DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu