Zimbabwe and Botswana have intensified regional cooperation in animal health after successfully vaccinating more than 72,000 cattle in a joint foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control campaign conducted in Matabeleland South.
The five-day cross-border exercise brought together veterinary teams from both countries to contain the spread of the highly contagious livestock disease in districts considered vulnerable because of frequent movement of animals across the Zimbabwe-Botswana border.
The vaccination programme targeted key districts including Gwanda, Beitbridge, Matobo, and Mangwe.
As part of the initiative, Botswana donated 100,000 doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine to Zimbabwe, underscoring the growing bilateral partnership in livestock disease management, agricultural development, and regional food security.
Veterinary authorities confirmed that 72,227 cattle were vaccinated between Sunday and Wednesday against a target of 78,034 animals, reflecting strong progress in efforts to curb the spread of the disease and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
Officials say the campaign forms part of broader regional strategies aimed at strengthening disease surveillance systems, improving livestock health, and minimising the economic impact of outbreaks that can disrupt trade and agricultural production.
Authorities from both countries have emphasised that sustained vaccination programmes, stronger border coordination, and continued regional collaboration remain essential to safeguarding the livestock sector and enhancing agricultural resilience across Southern Africa.
By Witness A Phiri
Breeze FM