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Cletus Mushanawani Mashonaland Central Bureau
RUSHINGA Rural District Council has resumed its traditional cattle auctioning markets after foot and mouth disease was successfully dealt with in Rushinga, Mt Darwin and Muzarabani districts. Both Rushinga RDC chief executive Mr Paradzai Munyede and provincial Veterinary Department Services officer Dr Wilmot Chikurunhe confirmed the development.

“We opened our cattle auctioning markets last week at Chimhanda and it was a huge success,” said Mr Munyede. “Buyers from Harare and local farmers attended the auction. This follows the lifting of the ban on cattle movement in the area.

“The biggest beast was sold for US$500, while another one was sold for $1 450. This will also help in improving our revenue inflows. The programme will be in full swing next week as the next auction will be here in Rushinga.”

Dr Chikurunhe said: “Foot and mouth disease control efforts have been successful in Rushinga, Mt Darwin and Muzarabani. We would like to thank cattle owners and stakeholders, particularly the Zimbabwe Republic Police in these areas.

“As a result, we have reduced FMD risk enough to achieve partial relaxation of quarantine conditions in the three districts. This will allow issuing of permits for cattle, sheep, goats and pigs to go for direct slaughter at registered abattoirs.

“Movement is for direct slaughter only and any movement of livestock for rearing outside the affected areas remains prohibited until further notice. The animals are sufficiently marked through branding before they are moved to enable officials to identify them should they end up on farms.

“The lifting of the ban is a relief to farmers who have been holding on to slaughter stock for a long time now. If the province is to take advantage of the devolution drive, effort needs to be directed at establishing slaughter facilities. At the moment the province has no choice but to let the cattle be taken to Harare for slaughter.”

Dr Chikurunhe said the situation remained dire in parts of Mazowe, Bindura and Shamva districts where veterinary teams are still on the ground.

“In these areas, we urge farmers and the public to act responsibly,” he said. “They should report sick animals to the veterinary department, and desist from moving live animals and carcasses without the authority of the Department of Veterinary Services.
“Violators risk spreading the disease to clean areas and if caught, the Animal Health Regulations require safe disposal of the consignment without compensation.”

Dr Chikurunhe said the province was not spared by the tickborne disease Theileriosis (January disease).
The worst affected district is Mt Darwin, followed by Muzarabani. Bindura, Shamva and Mazowe have also reported significant losses.

“While the Department of Veterinary Services runs a communal dipping programme in the communal and A1 resettlement areas, this is not enough when faced with this challenge and farmers need to supplement by buying pour-on dips as well as hand-spraying,” he said.

“Treatment of sick cattle can be frustrating as the animal does not last long once it starts showing signs of the disease. These signs include weakness, swelling of lymph nodes in head and shoulder, whitening of eyes (with discharge), discharge from the nostrils, frothing, all of which quickly progress to death in a matter of days.

“Again areas affected by the disease are placed under quarantine to prevent spread of the infected tick to new areas. Selling or buying of sick animals is an offence in terms of the Animal Health Act (Chapter 19:01). The farmer and the buyer have a huge responsibility to protect the public from consuming meat from sick animals.

“While saddled with these and other responsibilities, the Department of Veterinary Services also faces huge challenges in the form of a depleted vehicle fleet, a depleted motorbike fleet, shortage of dipping chemical, shortage of vaccines, inadequate vaccination equipment, poor accessibility of working areas as roads are in a serious state of disrepair, inadequate protective clothing, just to name a few.”