Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
MANICALAND is battling a surge in January disease and anthrax cases, but thanks to strategic dipping and vaccination efforts, the numbers are lower when compared to the previous years of 2023 and 2024.
That the province is reeling from the outbreak has prompted the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to impose quarantine orders in parts of three districts – Chipinge, Makoni and Mutare – restricting livestock movement in affected areas.
Four notorious tick-borne diseases – theileriosis, heart-water, babesiosis and anaplasmosis – are blamed for up to 65 percent of cattle diseases in the province.
However, theileriosis or January disease, remains the biggest threat in the country, wreaking havoc even outside the usual peak rainy season.
The highest number of cattle deaths is usually recorded between January and March when the tick population in pastures is high.
However, when dipping is strictly enforced and adhered to, animal health significantly improves. This is mainly because more than 90 percent of the cattle dip regularly.
Manicaland Department of Veterinary Services’ provincial epidemiologist, Dr Innocent Chabanga said as of Week 10, about 60 cases of theileriosis were recorded, compared to 133 case in 2023 and 220 cases in 2024 respectively.
“The province has carried successful disease prevention strategies, and most serious diseases are at bay. Although tick-borne diseases, and especially theileriosis, have been on the increase of late, the trend is far below that of 2023 and even 2024. This is attributable to smooth flow of the dipping programme to control ticks which transmit tick-borne diseases.
“Dipping is currently being carried every week. The continuous rains pose a challenge in that dipped cattle are washed off as soon as they have been dipped, which means the chemical does not last on the coat as expected. Furthermore, the rains also sometimes prevent dipping sessions if they are heavy, and the wet weather favours breeding of ticks.
“Anthrax was last reported about three weeks ago in Chipinge, and we have swiftly carried out vaccinations in the areas at risk, and to date, we have not reported any new cases,” said Dr Chabanga, adding that strategic dipping and vaccination of cattle are key tenets of strategic tick-borne control and dipping model, which are key tenets of National Development Strategy (NDS1), are bearing fruits in Manicaland to ensure that livestock health is prioritised.
“Manicaland has made significant strides in prioritising livestock health through strategic dipping and vaccination efforts.
“This proactive approach has, not only ensured the well-being of livestock, but also enabled farmers to boost productivity and production.
“The Department of Veterinary Services has played a crucial role in reducing the burden of diseases, particularly during this peak rainy period.
“As a result, farmers are now witnessing the growth of their herds, and are able to sell their livestock produce, earning a steady income.
“This progress is aligned with Government’s vision of achieving upper-middle-income status by 2030. By providing farmers with ‘insurance against diseases’, the province is empowering them to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the country’s economic growth, and progressively become upper middle citizens by 2030,” he said.
In Chipinge, quarantine orders have been imposed on Maparadze, Chisuma, Mahenye, Mutandahwe, and Vheneka dip tanks, while in Makoni, the restrictive measures, ending in April, were imposed on Chitsike, Tank 8, 10, 24 East, 52, 53, West, St Faith’s, Temaruru, Muchena, Padeswood, Zambara, Zurunga, Gorubi Springs, Dendeure, Dzvairo, Masvosva, Muvhimwa, Crofton, Dyffryn and Recondite dip tanks.
In Mutare, cattle movement was restricted at Bambazonke, Chapeyama, Maanhu, Makomwe and Maponde dip tanks.
The Department of Veterinary Services has enlisted the services of traditional leaders and the police to compel farmers to dip their cattle every week.
Livestock specialist, Professor Joseph Kamuzhanje said farmers need to preserve the provincial herd.
“Each livestock death must be followed by a post-mortem, and this is how diseases are tracked. The rules and regulations of dipping must be judiciously enforced. Nowadays, the law seems to be a bit relaxed. Tick-borne diseases are still the same, but the difference is on how they are being managed.
“In the past, the movement of animals was properly restricted, but nowadays a person can just relocate cattle from one point to the other. Regulations should be tightened to control disease outbreaks,” he said.
Farmers who refuse to avail their cattle for dipping will be breaking the Animal Health Act, which was promulgated in 1960.
The Animal Health (Cattle Cleansing) Regulations (1993) also makes it mandatory for farmers to avail their cattle for dipping whenever the Department of Veterinary Services deems it necessary, and those who do not comply are liable to prosecution.
The regulations stipulate that no person shall fail or refuse to comply with a lawful instruction to dip their cattle.
Dipping is a broad spectrum method of parasite control that can control scab, ticks, lice, blowfly, and keds with one product.
Methods of dipping cattle include spray race, pour-on, hand spraying and belly baths.
A plunge dip is a construction that allows complete immersion of livestock in a liquid that contains a parasiticide.
This ensures that the animal is completely submerged in the chemical on areas such as inside the ears and under the tail where ticks are found.
