TATENDA CHIKARA IN MASVINGO
A veterinary officer says Masvingo Province is under threat following a severe outbreak of January disease in the Midlands province.
Masvingo Provincial veterinary officer, Kramer Manyetu, said the disease has claimed cattle in the Midlands Province especially in Shurugwi, Mberengwa and Chirumanzu.
“At the moment the situation of January disease in Masvingo is stable. We are not yet in an outbreak situation. But we are under threat from the outbreak in Midlands Province where we are having districts such as Chirumanzu, Shurugwi and Mberengwa that have a severe outbreak,” Manyetu said.
“Our areas that are under threat are Gutu, Masvingo and Chivi districts of which Chivi has two fronts the Mberengwa side and Shurugwi side. Masvingo has Shurugwi while Gutu also has Chirumanzu side.
“…We have intensified dipping in those surrounding areas making sure that the 5,5,4 dipping regime is followed.”
Manyetu bemoaned lack of dipping infrastructure, lack of supervision in A2 farms and commercial farms as they are not under government in trying to eradicate the disease.
“We are facing a number of challenges from A2 farms and commercial farms because they are not under government scheme. Their dipping is not consistent because to clear the disease there is a need for all cattle to dip.
“Their dipping is affected by lack of dipping infrastructure, lack of supervision, use of a single nap-sack to spray many cattle is not effective,” Manyetu said.
He added: “The government has declared war against January disease in the whole country. There are several measures in line in the coming months. The government has made sure that we have enough dipping chemicals and every household has a kilogram of tick grease. We are engaging traditional leaders in awareness and mobilising farmers to dip their cattle often.”
