March 10, 2014

Zimbabwe faces new cattle disease outbreak

A lumpy skin cattle disease outbreak is being feared in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe which has left 5,000 cattle affected.

The worst affected areas include Gutu, Masvingo, Zaka, Bikita, Mwenezi and Chiredzi.

The Department of Veterinary Services is currently carrying out vaccinations of all cattle in the province amid reports of shortages of vaccines and veterinaries.

"Shortage of vaccines manpower and lack of money by our farmers to buy their own vaccines remains a challenge in our efforts to contain the disease. We have dispatched teams in the affected areas but shortage of vaccines and manpower has become a cause for concern," said Hubert Dzimwasha, a veterinary official.

The outbreak of the lumpy skin cattle disease coincided with farmers in Chiredzi and Mwenezi battling to contain the foot and mouth disease.

Due to the disease, movement of cattle in Chiredzi, Mwenezi and parts of Bikita has been suspended. All public cattle auctions have also been suspended in areas were the disease has wreaked havoc.

Last year, there were no cattle on show at the Masvingo Agricultural Show following an outbreak of foot and mouth in Mwenezi and Chiredzi Districts. These are traditionally cattle ranching areas in the country.

Such setbacks have hampered plans to rebuild the national herd, which was decimated by the drought suffered in 1992.