Zimbabwe, Botswana vaccinate 72 000 cattle against FMD

Zimbabwe and Botswana have jointly vaccinated more than 72 000 cattle in Matebeleland South under a coordinated cross-border campaign aimed at containing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and protecting the region's livestock sector.

The five-day exercise, conducted by veterinary teams from both countries, targeted cattle in the border districts of Gwanda, Beitbridge, Matobo and Mangwe, areas regarded as highly vulnerable to transboundary livestock diseases because of frequent animal movement along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border.

Botswana donated 100 000 doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine to Zimbabwe, with veterinary teams successfully vaccinating 72 227 cattle out of a targeted 78 034 during the campaign, which ran from Saturday to Wednesday.

The vaccination exercise forms part of a bilateral strategy and memorandum of understanding signed between the two neighbouring countries to control FMD along the shared border stretching from Plumtree to Beitbridge.

Under the agreement, cattle within a 40-kilometre radius on the Zimbabwean side of the border are vaccinated annually in two rounds conducted 28 days apart, with both governments contributing towards vaccine procurement.

The collaboration comes as Southern African countries intensify efforts to contain livestock diseases that threaten food security, farmer livelihoods and regional trade. Foot-and-mouth disease remains one of the most economically damaging livestock diseases because outbreaks often trigger livestock movement restrictions, market closures and export bans.

Zimbabwe has in recent years recorded sporadic outbreaks of FMD, particularly in Matebeleland South Province, where communal grazing systems and proximity to wildlife corridors increase the risk of transmission.

Speaking during a meeting marking the end of the first phase of the campaign in Gwanda, Matebeleland South provincial veterinary director Enat Mdlongwa said the programme had achieved significant success.

"The foot-and-mouth vaccination campaign is a bilateral programme which involves the governments of Zimbabwe and Botswana. We have collaborated in a bid to try and control transboundary diseases and this programme was particularly targeting foot-and-mouth disease," he said.

"We received 100 000 doses of FMD vaccine from the Botswana government. We vaccinated 72 227 animals in Mangwe, Matobo, Gwanda and Beitbridge districts. We recorded a 93 percent coverage of the targeted 78 034 animals."

Dr Mdlongwa said cooperation between the two countries was essential in controlling diseases that easily spread across borders. He added that the remaining vaccine doses would be deployed during the second phase of the campaign scheduled for next month.

Speaking at the same event, Botswana embassy representative Banabotlhe Kesianye Mello said the initiative demonstrated the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

"The FMD vaccination campaign reflects the strong cooperation and collaboration between Botswana and Zimbabwe in safeguarding the livestock sector as well as protecting farmers' livelihoods," she said.

"The campaign is an important step towards containing the spread of FMD and strengthening animal health systems in our region. FMD has not only affected our two countries but has also spread across the region."

Ms Mello urged farmers and communities to continue cooperating with veterinary authorities during vaccination and disease surveillance programmes.

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was reported in Mangwe District earlier this year, prompting veterinary authorities to impose quarantine measures and intensify surveillance efforts.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, goats, sheep and pigs. It spreads rapidly through direct contact between infected animals, contaminated equipment, vehicles and human movement between farms.

Authorities say sustained vaccination campaigns, farmer compliance and regional cooperation remain critical in protecting the national herd and restoring confidence in livestock production and trade.