By Rudo Saungweme
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement has advised the public and stakeholders on the suspension of importation of live cloven hoofed animals due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
The ministry said this in a press statement issued today.
“The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement wishes to advise the public and stakeholders that all imports of cloven-hoofed animals and related fresh products from South Africa have been suspended with immediate effect.
“The suspension follows notification by the South African Veterinary Authorities of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease on a farm in Molemole District of Limpopo Province on the 1st of November 2019.
“They are currently in the process of identifying the virus strain, extent of the outbreak and conducting backward and forward tracing to determine possible origin of the virus as well as locations to which the disease might have spread,” reads the statement.
The statement reads that the suspension is in line with the provisions of the Animal Health Act, CAP 19:01.
“In line with provisions of the Animal Health Act, CAP 19:01,the Department of Veterinary Services has suspended the importation of live cloven hoofed animals (cattle, goats, sheep and pigs) and their products from South Africa with immediate effect until a full report on the outbreak has been availed by the South African Veterinary Authorities,” reads the statement.
The Ministry said that the suspension of imports from South Africa was a precautionary measure designed to prevent the spread of infection into Zimbabwe through the importation of live animals and animal products.
The Ministry promised to continuously monitor the situation with a view to normalizing trade with the Republic of South Africa as soon as the outbreak is controlled.
