Zimbabwe suspends livestock imports from South Africa over FMD outbreak

Zimbabwe has suspended, with immediate effect, all imports of live cloven-hoofed animals and their related products from South Africa following a confirmed outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Gauteng Province. The move, aimed at protecting Zimbabwe's livestock industry, was announced by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development through a public advisory issued over the weekend.

The decision follows a report by South Africa's Veterinary Services confirming the presence of FMD in Mogale City District on April 30. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep. It poses a severe threat to animal health and the agricultural economy due to its rapid transmission and impact on productivity.

"The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development wishes to advise the public and all stakeholders that all imports of live cloven-hoofed animals and their products from Gauteng Province, Republic of South Africa, have been suspended with immediate effect until further notice," the advisory read.

Authorities have urged stakeholders—including livestock importers, transporters, border officials, and the general public—to fully comply with the directive to safeguard the country's livestock.

"It is imperative that everyone respects the control measures in place to safeguard the nation's livestock industry. The repercussions of FMD outbreaks are far-reaching, negatively affecting trade, the national economy, and the livelihoods of individual livestock owners," the statement added.

FMD is classified as a transboundary animal disease (TAD) due to its potential to spread across national borders, often through the illegal movement of infected animals or contaminated products. In southern Africa, wild buffalo are known to be natural reservoirs of the virus, exacerbating the risk of cross-border transmission.

The disease causes painful blisters in the mouths and between the hooves of infected animals, which lead to open sores, salivation, lameness, and loss of appetite. Infected livestock often suffer high fever and lethargy, severely reducing their productivity.

Zimbabwe's Directorate of Veterinary Services said it is closely monitoring developments in South Africa and will issue updates as the situation evolves. The current suspension will remain in place until the FMD outbreak is brought under control.

Zimbabwe has previously experienced FMD outbreaks, primarily due to cross-border livestock movements and contact with infected wildlife. Past outbreaks have led to livestock quarantines and disruptions in the beef export industry. As such, the country remains on high alert to prevent any recurrence.

With a national cattle herd currently estimated at 5.6 million, Zimbabwe is actively pursuing initiatives to boost livestock health and resilience. The Government is rolling out artificial insemination programmes using high-quality bull semen to improve genetic traits and productivity in local herds.

Efforts are also being directed at combating tick-borne diseases, which have killed nearly 500,000 cattle since 2016. These include local vaccine production, rehabilitation of dip tanks, and intensification of the national dipping programme.

These interventions are part of the broader Livestock Growth Plan, which targets the transformation of the sector into a US$3.4 billion industry by 2025 under the country's Vision 2030 blueprint.

With disease outbreaks posing a constant threat to this goal, authorities have emphasised vigilance, cross-border cooperation, and strict biosecurity protocols to protect Zimbabwe's agricultural gains.