CHINHOYI – MASHONALAND West province is reeling under an outbreak of suspected
theileriosis (January disease), which has killed over 100 cattle so far.
The disease has affected six of the seven districts in the province that include Hurungwe,
Zvimba, Mhondoro-Ngezi, Chegutu, Sanyati and in Mhangura in Makonde District.
Kariba District is the only one district, which has not registered any such cases, while the cases
in Chegutu are declining.
A farmer from Portlet in Makonde District, Isau Chaimanga, said cattle were dying and they
suspected January disease but Veterinary officials had not confirmed the cause as yet.
Yes, our cattle are dying and we are suspecting January disease because of the symptoms.
Veterinary officials are denying that the disease is the January disease and said they will conduct
investigations before telling us.
Another farmer from Portlet, Abel Chimwanda, said most of the affected cattle, which were
dying were due to the farmers skipping dipping schedules for their cattle.
We were given the prescription and we bought the vaccine which seems to be working. Ticks
are the main cause of this disease and most cattle affected are the ones which were skipping
dipping.
He added that some Veterinary officials were also fleecing them as they were forcing them to
pay for their services, which must be offered for free.
The Portlet community is also alleges that a commercial farmer in the area recently imported
cattle from South Africa and they suspect that these may have something to do with stubborn
ticks, which are not responding to locally available chemicals, resulting in the death of many of
their cattle in the area.
Contacted for comment Provincial Veterinary Director for Mashonaland West, Dr Thozokani
Mswela, said that they were investigating the suspected outbreak of the disease and that for now
anything “were just rumours”.
Still investigating. Just heard the rumours. I am waiting for my guys to confirm, said Dr
Mswela.
Recently the province declared that January disease under control, attributing it to farmers
complying with dipping schedules as well as positive engagement with the traditional leaders in
the province. However a recent upsurge of cases suspected to be the disease have been recorded
throughout the province, except in one district.
The number of January disease cases tends to be high in January because of the high rainfall and
the province has experienced normal to above normal rainfall this season.
