Marvelous Moyo  Gwanda Correspondent
THE Department of Veterinary Services has ordered farmers to stop the illegal movement of cattle in and out of the areas affected by foot and mouth in Insiza to ensure that the disease does not spread to other places.In an interview yesterday, Matabeland South acting provincial veterinary officer Dr Mbuso Moyo said farmers who are illegally moving cattle were posing challenges in fighting the outbreak.

“We’re trying everything we can to put the disease under control.

“However, we’ve noted with concern that some farmers are illegally moving their cattle through  the affected areas, which isn’t acceptable. Those doing that, if they’re caught, would be prosecuted,” he said.

Dr Moyo said illegal movement of animals  through the foot and mouth zones would worsen the situation.

“If farmers illegally move their animals, chances are that the disease would spread to other areas. Therefore, we advise farmers to restrict movement of their animals so that we bring the disease under control,” Dr Moyo said.

He referred questions on the availability of vaccines or the number of infected animals to the director of veterinary services in Harare, Dr Josphat Nyika, who was said to be out of office and was not reachable on his mobile phone.

However, reliable sources said the province continued to struggle in fighting the outbreak due to the continued shortage of vaccines.

The foot and mouth outbreak was first detected in Insiza district in February this year and the area was put under quarantine to prevent the virus from spreading to other areas.

The disease spread from Mberengwa, in Midlands Province which shares a border with Insiza and some farmers on both districts share diptanks.

Farmers said there was a need to speedily bring the problem under control as the looming drought was likely to exacerbate the situation as Insiza district was one of the areas with better pastures and cattle were likely to move there.