The Government has ordered the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to ensure that there is no movement of livestock from the Marondera District following a suspected foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.
In a letter dated 30 June 2022 addressed to Marondera Central and rural police stations, the district veterinary officer identified as K Manyetu said the suspected FMD outbreak was still being investigated. Part of the letter reads:
This office would like to notify you of a suspected notifiable disease: Foot and mouth outbreak in Marondera district.
The disease has not yet been confirmed and we are trying to confirm the presence or absence of the disease.
As a precaution, the whole district has been placed under standstill and no animal (cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) movements must be processed. Regular updates will be given as and when they are available.
If the disease is present we will determine the extent to which it has spread so that we can define the area to eventually place under quarantine.
Last month, Mozambique banned the importation of animals and animal products and by-products from Zimbabwe saying there was an outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in Mashonaland Central Province.