Botswana set to help Zimbabwe fight foot and mouth

Botswana will donate vaccines to Zimbabwe to help fight the foot and mouth disease, which is most prevalent along the border of the two countries, the New Ziana news agency reported.

Head of Botswana delegation, Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary, Micus Chimbombi, with his delegation are in Zimbabwe to assess what assistance the nation needs to bring the latest outbreak of foot and mouth under control.

"The team will work out the technical details to determine the amount of vaccines required, and the number of times the animals would be vaccinated," Chimbombi told New Ziana on Thursday.

The latest outbreak of foot and mouth, a perennial disease in the country, resulted from buffaloes coming into contact with cattle, forcing the Zimbabwe government to launch frantic efforts to combat the outbreak.

Speaking after meeting the visiting experts, Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development minister Joseph Made said government welcomed Botswana's assistance.

"SADC is on full alert in trying to contain the spread of foot and mouth in the region, and the donation from Botswana is most welcome," he said.

He said bringing the foot and mouth under control was vital for the beef industries of the two countries, and ensuring exports of the commodity to the lucrative European Union market were safeguarded.