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Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
Vaccination for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has begun in Chipinge, a move that has been welcomed by farmers in the district who have suffered significant loses from continuous outbreaks. The lower part of Chipinge District, which comprises areas such as Tanganda, Middle Sabi, Chibuwe, Chisumbanje and Mahenye has been declared a red zone by Government following successive FMD outbreaks over the previous years.

This has had a negative impact on farmers as they are still unable to sell their cattle to other parts of the country, a move meant avoid the spreading the disease.

Chipinge livestock and development secretary Mr Joseph Mutsvaidzwa commended efforts by Government to contain the outbreak of FMD this year.

Mr Mutsvaidzwa said no outbreak of FMD had been reported in the district this year.
“We are grateful for the efforts being done by Government to stop FMD in our zone. For long, the lower part of Chipinge has been declared a red zone because of constant outbreaks of the disease because of its proximity to Save Conservancy, where stray buffaloes from the range infect our cattle with the disease. Because of this, we are now forced to sell our cattle at low prices as there is limited market for beef coming from Chipinge,” he said.

He said farmers were hopeful that the early vaccination of livestock would bear fruit.
“We hope that the early vaccination programme will begin to bear fruit and we can eradicate FMD from Chipinge.
“Then maybe Government will remove this sanction on the sale of our beef outside the district so that we can trade with other areas,” he said.

Councillor for Ward 22 Mr Charles Mugidho said the Chipinge Rural District Council was working with the Department of Livestock Development to mobilise farmers for FMD vaccination to ensure that no farmer was left behind.
“We receive communication from Department of Livestock that FMD vaccination has started this week.

“The move is welcome towards stopping FMD this season.
“Our farmers are always crying foul year in and year out because of this disease, but this year will hopefully be different,” he said.