CHINHOYI, Aug. 5 (NewsDay Live) – Zimbabwe has intensified efforts to protect its livestock sector from disease and the anticipated effects of an El Niño-induced drought, with Masvingo Province vaccinating more than 160,000 cattle against anthrax, exceeding its initial target of 130,000.
The campaign forms part of a broader government strategy to strengthen livestock resilience through disease surveillance, diptank rehabilitation, water development, fodder production and farmer training ahead of the next farming season.
Speaking to journalists recently, Directorate of Veterinary Services chief director Pious Makaya said government was reinforcing animal health systems to safeguard food security and rural livelihoods against increasing climate-related risks.
“Government is committed to building a resilient and productive livestock sector capable of withstanding both drought and disease threats,” Makaya said.
“The nationwide vaccination drive, coupled with improved animal health infrastructure and farmer preparedness, is central to that strategy.”
In Masvingo, the vaccination programme was launched at Makurumidze Diptank in Zimuto, where Provincial Veterinary Officer Kremar Manyetu said authorities had prioritised districts with a history of anthrax outbreaks.
“Our focus in Masvingo is on prevention before the drought hits. Anthrax spores lie dormant in the soil and resurface when grazing is poor, so we are targeting both historic hotspots and new areas,” Manyetu said.
“Vaccinating over 160,000 cattle already, rehabilitating 120 diptanks and drilling boreholes is all about making sure farmers do not lose their herds the way we did during the 2015/16 El Niño.”
He said the programme had expanded beyond traditional anthrax hotspots and now includes rehabilitation of 120 diptanks, borehole drilling, installation of water troughs, hay baling, fodder production and farmer training.
Farmers who attended the vaccination exercise at Makurumidze Diptank described the initiative as critical to protecting their livestock and livelihoods before drought conditions intensify.
Zimbabwe’s livestock sector supports millions of rural households and remains a key contributor to food security and household incomes. Masvingo is among the provinces most prone to anthrax outbreaks, with infections typically increasing during dry seasons when cattle graze close to the ground and ingest dormant anthrax spores.
The devastating 2015/16 El Niño drought resulted in widespread livestock losses due to depleted grazing and acute water shortages, prompting government to prioritise preventive vaccination, diptank rehabilitation and fodder conservation in drought preparedness programmes.
The Directorate of Veterinary Services has also expanded the use of disease surveillance data and community-based animal health workers to improve early detection and rapid response to outbreaks.
Officials say the goal is to vaccinate all cattle in high-risk districts before the peak of the dry season, while building strategic livestock feed reserves to cushion the sector against the expected impacts of El Niño.