Zimbabwe is stepping up its fight against atherosclerosis and other livestock diseases as it targets a herd of six million cattle by the end of the year as part of a livestock recovery plan.

The national herd is now 5.4 million. At least 500,000 cattle have died from tick-borne diseases in the last five years, but some strategies introduced by the Second Republic are working and farmers are heeding the advice of veterinary experts. deaths from tick-borne diseases are now declining rapidly.

Secretary of State for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr. John Basella, announced yesterday that the disease was eradicated in Venice, Mondro Ngezi district, when the national war against the disease officially began in January. He said doing so would help Zimbabwe achieve Vision 2030.

“Winning the fight against January disease will ensure that, as a nation, we can achieve Vision 2030 well ahead of our target year. “To achieve this, we have made plans to renovate plunge pools and build new plunge pools by June of this year. There are now 4,000 plunge pools nationwide, 80% of which are functional. The remaining 20% ​​will be in rehab by June of this year to seriously strengthen their fight against the disease in January,” he said.

In addition, he planned to build 1,500 plunge pools.

“This year we aim to grow the herd from 5.4 million to 6 million. This target can also be protected if we construct 1 500 new dip tanks countrywide.”

The fight against the disease which he said was also achievable by the inclusion of the traditional leaders, called for the community to take extreme responsibility for new and rehabilitated dip tanks.

The government, opened to tender for private concerns to contribute in the construction of some of the dip-tanks while the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development will avail building materials for the construction of others with the help of the community who in turn will raise local materials that include sand.

Mr Tinashe Ruzvidzo, director of Abercroft Enterprises (Pvt), a local company that was awarded a tender to help rehabilitate dip-tanks in Mashonaland East and Midlands provinces was optimistic about meeting the June deadline.

Apart from the construction of more dip tanks, the central government has also released funds for the acquisition of 6 000 motorbikes to improve the mobility of veterinary extension officers.

Additionally, the government is intensifying cattle dipping intervals, rolling out of the Presidential tick grease, and increased farmer training and awareness campaigns. With 112,000 Bolvac vaccines currently undergoing field trials in the Makoni district, soaking chemicals and local manufacturing of the vaccine are also expected to help fight the disease in January.

Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Vangelis Haritatos has called on people to adhere to diving intervals to help eradicate this threatened disease.

“We stock enough soaking chemicals to last eight months. Our community should have no excuses for not soaking the herd,” he said.

Chief Mashaba, maiden name Binbai Macchocoto, lamented the fact that farmers have to travel long distances to soak their livestock as a major reason for late payments. Gogo Teresa Shumba, a widow who lost her herd to a January disease in 2020, praised President Mnangagwa for making tick fat available.