HARARE - There are growing fears that an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Zimbabwe is putting the entire meat industry in southern Africa at risk. The highly contagious disease which spreads among livestock, was first reported in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe last week. It has since spread to Tshikwalakwala, Malungudzi and the Malipati areas of Chiredzi and South African farmers fear they could be next.
The South African Red Meat Producer’s Organisation (RPO) claims the authorities in Zimbabwe have failed to control the disease in any of the affected regions. But Zimbabwean authorities claim the foot and mouth was caused by 25 buffaloes which strayed from the Kruger national park into Zimbabwe.
RPO spokesman Gerhard Schutte told ***The Zimbabwean that the situation was out of control.
“Its not causing the death of animals, but it is one of the diseases that has the biggest impact on agricultural trade internationally,” he said. If we look at the situation in Zimbabwe it is a fact that they need 2.3 million doses of vaccine immediately.
Over the next couple of years they will need a further 14 million doses and that will cost about $18m. As Zimbabwe does not have that kind of money, the RPO is asking the South Africa Development Community (SADC) to help.
“If SADC cannot help we will approach the South African government,” he said. “The devastation which can be created in South Africa is much larger than the problem Zimbabwe is facing,” he explained.
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