The Sunday News
GOVERNMENT has availed $500 000 to procure vaccines to control the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease although reports have indicated that a Botswana company which supplies the chemicals was failing to meet demand due to growing orders from other regional countries.
In an interview Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for livestock Mr Paddy Zhanda said Government was committed to fighting the disease.
“We were given about half a million dollars to fight the foot and mouth disease for which we are grateful considering the Government’s limited fiscal space,” said Mr Zhanda.
“It’s important for all stakeholders to get together and not to look to Government all the time but to also take the initiative to make sure that whenever we are confronted with this unfortunate situation, we work together.”
To control the disease nationwide, Government requires at least $20 million.
He said the disease should be stopped as it was affecting the beef business in the country.
“We really want to stop this outbreak and if we were exporting to any country like the EU, like what we used to do, any single outbreak would have led to suspension of all the exports until the disease is contained.”
He said traders were the main culprits in manipulating the regulations and distributing the disease.
“The private abattoirs have engaged runners to buy and bring cattle on their behalf and rumour has it that this is where most of the infection is taking place. The runners move the cattle during the night and take them to private abattoirs. There must be monitoring of these private abattoirs so that they comply with the rules and regulations of the country,” said Mr Zhanda
Meanwhile, it has also emerged that the Botswana Vaccine Institute, which supplies Zimbabwe with the vaccines was failing to provide adequate quantities due to increasing demand within the country and from Namibia and Angola. The chairperson of Matabeleland Foot and Mouth Task Force, a newly established taskforce to fight the disease, Mr Roger Tavares, said although the Food and Agriculture Organisation had availed funding to acquire the vaccines, the Botswana company had indicated that it was not able to provide enough due to demand from other countries that have been hit by the disease such as Namibia and Angola.
“Although funds might be available, the vaccine might not be there. For example at this moment Botswana Vaccine Institute has insufficient numbers of vaccines to combat the latest outbreaks in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola.
FAO had paid for vaccines for Zimbabwe, but sadly the vaccine is not available. As such we have to apply the system of containment of animals to stop the spread of the disease,” said Mr Tavares in Bulawayo last week during the launch of the taskforce.
He called for the relevant stakeholders to take precautionary measures to fight the disease.
“If any animal that shows signs of infection is not moved from an area the disease will die in that area. Humans are the key factor that moves the disease through movement of cattle whether for grazing or trading,” said Mr Tavares.
He said all the suspected cases of FMD or any disease should be reported to the veterinary services immediately.
Matabeleland Foot and Mouth Task Force vice-chairperson Mr Thabani Mlotshwa also said people should report any buffalo sighted outside national parks to the veterinary office.
“All the abattoirs should be bio-secure and cattle delivered to abattoirs should be slaughtered within 24 hours unless with prior arrangement with Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services,” said Mr Mlotshwa.
He said police should mount roving roadblocks to check livestock movement.
“The Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services should inspect all cattle prior to movement and enforce the Animal Health Act and its regulations,” said Mr Mlotshwa.
Matabeleland North provincial head of the Department of Veterinary Services Dr Polex Moyo said in his province they were working hard to contain the disease after putting a buffer between Insiza and Matabeleland North.
“We are also creating a buffer between Mzingwane and Matabeleland North to contain further outbreaks,” said Dr Moyo.
He said they were going to vaccinate cattle in places that have been affected.
He said the situation was not bad after they put measures to contain the disease.
