Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has dispatched a high-powered team to Zimbabwe to assess the standards and regulations in the management of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).

The delegation is headed by Dr Gideon Bruckner. WOAH team came at the invitation of the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services (DLVS) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.

DLVS principal director Dr Unesu Ushewokunze-Obatolu said the delegation would assess the management of diseases including detection, prevention and control of FMD.

“We applied for the delegation to come and look at the way we apply standards in the management, detection, prevention and control of FMD that uses scientific approach according to world standards on animal health.

“We are looking forward to be considered and have the measures endorsed for correctness and competence in bringing FMD under control,” she said.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister, Dr Joseph Made, said the delegation would visit areas in Mashonaland Central and Manicaland provinces, interacting with stakeholders including community leaders.

“The delegation will visit several places. Manicaland was chosen because of the existence of the border with Mozambique, while Mashonaland Central was chosen in relation to the dip tanks and borders with Zambia and Mozambique.

“The mission will have broad interactions with stakeholders looking at immediate application, medium and long term measures on disease control and how sustainable the measures are. We are not only interested in immediate solutions,” he said.