MASVINGO — Regular outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Masvingo and other parts of the country have seen the Masvingo Show Society halting all livestock exhibitions this year, it has been learnt.

BY TATENDA CHITAGU

This year’s show will run from Wednesday to Sunday under the theme Moving From Relief to Sustainable Food Supply.

Masvingo Show Society administration secretary Jane Marevesa said they had shelved all livestock exhibitions due to FMD, which has had sporadic outbreaks since last year.

“This year, there are no exhibitions of all livestock due to the disease. We have been advised by the veterinary department against moving the animals and so we are acting accordingly,” she said.

Zimbabwe has experienced regular outbreaks of the disease in recent times in cattle-rich regions of Masvingo, Matabeleland and Midlands.
Marevesa said this year, the number of exhibitors had declined due to the bad business environment.

“Last year, we had 85 exhibitors, but this year, they have dropped to 70 owing to the contracting industry,” she said.

Zimbabwe’s manufacturing industry has shrunk with several companies having downsized or closed shop since last year, while workers have also been sacked en-masse this year following a July Supreme Court ruling that empowered employers to fire workers on three months’ notice without packages.