Nkayi FMD quarantine lifted

The Matabeleland North Veterinary Directorate has finally lifted the grueling 18-month foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) quarantine in Nkayi district, a move that immediately unchains hundreds of communal farmers from severe livestock movement restrictions. This long-awaited decision, effective after extensive clinical and serological surveillance confirmed the disease's containment, signals a critical step towards economic recovery for a region heavily reliant on its cattle industry. The containment had been imposed since January 2024 under Zimbabwe Animal Health Act, crippling the district's livestock value chain, limiting trade, and inflicting substantial economic losses on farmers already grappling with chronic poverty and climate vulnerabilities. While Nkayi's immediate FMD threat is neutralized, Zimbabwe broader livestock sector remains on high alert, facing persistent outbreaks in high-risk zones near wildlife corridors and regional concerns over virulent new FMD strains. The Department of Veterinary Services has been battling these challenges with intensified disease surveillance and vaccination campaigns, often in collaboration with neighboring SADC countries like Botswana. With the quarantine lifted, normal livestock marketing and movement are set to gradually resume, offering a lifeline to Nkayi's farmers who can now access markets and rebuild their herds. However, authorities are stressing continued vigilance and adherence to biosecurity measures to prevent future outbreaks. The incident underscores the fragile balance between economic activity and disease control, a lesson that will undoubtedly inform ongoing national strategies for strengthening Zimbabwe livestock resilience against transboundary animal diseases.