Insiza farmer shocked as 28 head of cattle destroyed

Insiza farmer shocked as 28 head of cattle destroyed

Mako Jerera

Veterinary Services Department has ordered the destruction of 28 cattle belonging to a farmer in Insiza, Matabeleland South, to contain the spread of highly contagious Theileriosis Disease.

Theileriosis is a disease caused by a species of Theileria, a blood-borne parasite which only affects cattle and is primarily transmitted by ticks.

According to the destruction and disposal order issued by the Director of Veterinary Field Services Dr Jairus Machakwa on May 23, 2022, the farmer, Sabelo Moyo who violated the laws governing the movement of livestock, moved a total of 28 cattle from Lancaster Farm, which is under quarantine for Theileriosis, to Lubuze Dip Tank in Insiza.

“Information at my disposal indicates that Sabelo Moyo, moved twenty-eight (28) head of cattle from Lancaster Farm to Lubuze Dip tank, Insiza,” said Machakwa in the order sent to the Matabeleland South Provincial Veterinary Officer.
“The cattle had no Veterinary Movement Permit. Sabelo Moyo contravened the provisions of Animal Health (Movement of cattle and pigs) Regulations, 1984. Lancaster Farm is under quarantine for Theileriosis, which is decimating the national herd. The illegal movement posed a risk of spread of specified animal disease against which a quarantine was placed by the veterinary authority,” said the order.

“Now, therefore, under and by virtue of powers vested in the director of Veterinary Services by Section 7, Subsection (3) paragraph (a) of the Animal Health Act (Chapter 19:01) as read with Section 7, Subsection (2) paragraph (a) and (b) of the said Act, the Director orders the destruction of the twenty-eight (28) cattle and safe disposal of the carcasses,” said Machakwa in the order.

He added, “The Provincial Veterinary Officer for Matabeleland South Province or his representative is hereby ordered to destroy the twenty-eight cattle (28) and ensure safe disposal of carcasses. The destruction and disposal must be witnessed by police details.”

The livestock sector in the country has been under severe threat from tick borne diseases (TBDs), losing 15328 cattle between 2014-2020, causing huge economic losses in cattle assets and farm savings in Zimbabwe where the majority of cattle owners are the resource poor communal farmers.

The country’s Livestock Growth Plan 2020-2025 identifies animal health as one of the key intervention points requiring urgent attention to correctly position the Livestock sector for meaningful contribution to the country’s economic blueprint National Development Strategy 1.

According to a 10-year integrated national ticks and tick-borne disease control strategy launched in Harare recently, four major tick-borne diseases, namely Theileriosis, Anaplasmosis, Heartwater and Babesiosis were identified as major causes of cattle mortality, killing thousands of cattle in the country annually.

The strategy, launched by government through the Department of Veterinary Services with support from Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU), seeks to control this situation. The document shows that from 2014 to 2020, Zimbabwe recorded 6 194 cattle deaths from bovine theileriosis out of 11 762 reported cases.

A combined use of vaccines and adherence to strict restrictions to animal movement is expected to contribute to long term control of the deadly animal diseases.