While most of the elite travel to overseas for medical attention, Zimbabwe’s povo and their livestock are bearing the government’s failure to capacitate health institutions and veterinary services.
Midlands’s provincial veterinary officer, Dr Thomas Sibanda said it was difficult to contain the outbreak because the Government does not have the necessary resources.
While farm invasions are still taking place, and little being done to contain foot and mouth, Zimbabwe is going to face another serious epidemic. “Foot and mouth outbreak in Zvishavane and some parts of Matabeleland, started sometime last year but the Government is failing to contain the outbreak because of lack of resources in the department to treat the disease,” said Sibanda.
Farmers who spoke to the media expressed anxiety over the situation and urged the Government to assist farmers in mobilizing resources to fight the outbreak.
“The virus does not kill the cattle immediately but this is a worrisome disease. We appeal to Government to visit our different dip tanks and organise farmers to contribute money towards the procurement of the necessary drugs,” said one villager at Mapazuli deep tank in Mapanzure.
Reports have become far and wide on the failure of local health institutions , to cater for its own people. The Ministry of Health has also been failing to answer questions from the povo, as to why the First Family travels to Asia for their medicals, while they claim that Zimbabwe’s health facilities are in good shape.
The answer to all this is for the povo to digest. The lumpy skin, foot and mouth diseases which broke out in Zvishavane and Matabeleland last November has not been contained because Government lacks the resources to fight the outbreak, as confirmed by a senior veterinary officers.
Foot and mouth virus only affects animals with horns. It affects the tongue and stops cattle from grazing resulting in them starving to death.
Human beings are affected by foot and mouth if they eat contaminated meat and there are fears that the outbreak could be fuelled by some butcheries, who are selling un-inspected meat.