Source: Govt commends private sector role in curbing tick-borne diseases – herald
Nqobile Bhebhe
Zimpapers Business Hub
The Government has commended the private sector for playing a critical role in supporting national efforts to control tick-borne diseases in the livestock sector, describing industry players as strategic partners in safeguarding the country’s national herd.
Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Davis Marapira made the remarks during a tour of Coopers Zimbabwe in Bulawayo yesterday to assess the company’s production capacity and preparedness to support the national cattle dipping programme.
This comes as Bulawayo-based dipping chemical manufacturing firm, Coopers Zimbabwe, has put in place contingency measures to ensure continued production amid supply disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The war has affected the delivery of some critical raw materials used in the manufacture of dipping chemicals, raising concerns over supply chains for livestock disease control products.
Briefing journalists on the sidelines of the ministerial tour of the company’s manufacturing plant, Coopers Zimbabwe managing director Mr Petrus Erasmus said the company had already activated alternative supply arrangements to cushion production.
“We import some raw materials and at present, we are seized with some challenges with some products being stuck in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict,” he said.
“However, we have made contingency plans to provide enough stock and to ensure production of dipping chemicals continues and make sure that dipping does go on. We have made sure dipping continues in the coming weeks while we wait for large shipments of raw materials to arrive. So we will be able to supply.”
Mr Erasmus said, despite the disruptions, the company currently has sufficient stock to supply key livestock-producing provinces, including Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Midlands.
A Zimpapers news crew observed large volumes of dipping chemicals in storage while workers continued operations on the production lines.
Deputy Minister Marapira said the private sector plays a pivotal role in complementing Government efforts in the fight against tick-borne diseases.
“This is a private company that is involved in the importation, processing and manufacturing of dipping chemicals.
“So the private sector is very critical to our national herd to exist. They are our strategic partners in animal disease control,” he said.
He said the Government was working closely with manufacturers to ensure the continued supply of dipping chemicals across the country.
“The product we have here will go to Masvingo and Matabeleland North and South. It will go to Binga and Hwange starting today (Thursday).
“The product we have here will carry the country for the next two weeks while the manufacturer continues to process daily,” said Deputy Minister Marapira.
He warned that tick activity increases significantly during the rainy season when grazing conditions improve, making strict adherence to cattle dipping schedules critical.
“There is too much activity of ticks when the grass is green, so if we follow the dipping regime, we are going to reduce January disease and other tick-borne related diseases. The only solution is to dip religiously,” he said.
Tick-borne diseases remain one of the biggest threats to Zimbabwe’s national herd, particularly in communal areas where adherence to dipping programmes can sometimes be inconsistent.
Livestock is a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s agricultural economy, providing meat, milk, draught power and a source of wealth for rural households.
Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to expand its national herd to 12 million cattle by 2034, a target now considered attainable following the growth of the country’s stud livestock population, which has surpassed 24 000 registered animals.
Calls have been made for sustained collaboration among key stakeholders to unlock growth in Zimbabwe’s livestock sector, as the country targets a US$25 billion livestock economy by 2030.
Authorities say strengthening collaboration between the Government, private sector suppliers and farmers will be key to protecting the national herd and safeguarding rural livelihoods that depend on livestock production.
According to the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2- Agricultural value chains analysis and action plan (2026-2030), on Mortality Projections, the strategy aims to reduce cattle mortality due to diseases by 62,5 percent, from 8 percent in 2025 to 3 percent in 2030.
“To achieve this ambitious goal, the Ministry will implement the Integrated Tick-borne Disease Strategy, which comprises three key pillars: intensive cattle dipping, vaccination, and acaricide resistance monitoring. Intensive cattle dipping involves regular dipping to kill ticks and prevent disease transmission, complemented by the rehabilitation and construction of new dip tanks.
“Vaccination efforts will focus on producing and administering vaccines against tick-borne diseases such as January Disease.
“Acaricide resistance monitoring will ensure effective tick control by managing resistance to acaricides,” reads part of the document.
“Furthermore, the promotion of household tick management schemes under Rural Development 8.0 to control ticks and tick-borne diseases, which account for approximately 60% of cattle deaths annually, will be up-scaled.
“ In addition to these efforts, the Government will conduct mass livestock vaccinations against diseases such as anthrax and foot-and-mouth disease, implement farmer awareness campaigns to promote good animal husbandry practices, and enhance laboratory-based surveillance and diagnostic services to quickly detect and respond to disease outbreaks.”
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