Zimbabwe, Botswana vaccinate 72,000 cattle against FMD as South Africa battles outbreak control challenges

ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe and Botswana have strengthened cross-border livestock disease control efforts after jointly vaccinating more than 72,000 cattle against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Province, amid growing regional concerns over the effectiveness of current outbreak response strategies.

The five-day vaccination campaign targeted high-risk livestock areas along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border, including Beitbridge, Gwanda, Mangwe, and Matobo districts, where frequent cattle movement increases the risk of disease transmission.

Authorities vaccinated 72,227 cattle out of a target of 78,034 animals, achieving more than 90% coverage. 

Botswana supported the program by donating 100,000 doses of FMD vaccine to Zimbabwe.

Matabeleland South provincial veterinary director Dr Enat Mdlongwa said the collaboration remains essential in controlling diseases that easily spread across borders.

“The foot-and-mouth vaccination campaign is a bilateral program involving the governments of Zimbabwe and Botswana,” said Dr. Mdlongwa.

“We collaborated in a bid to control transboundary diseases, particularly foot-and-mouth disease.”

The vaccination exercise forms part of broader efforts by both governments to protect livestock production, support farmers, and minimise trade disruptions caused by animal disease outbreaks.

Authorities consider districts bordering Botswana particularly vulnerable because of communal grazing systems, informal livestock movement and wildlife corridors that increase interaction between domestic animals and wildlife.

Zimbabwe has recorded sporadic FMD outbreaks in recent years, including cases in Mangwe earlier this year that triggered quarantine restrictions and tighter disease surveillance measures.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. 

Outbreaks often result in livestock movement restrictions, market closures and export suspensions, placing significant economic pressure on farmers.

Botswana embassy representative Banabotlhe Kesianye Mello said the joint campaign highlights the importance of regional cooperation in protecting livestock industries.

“The campaign is an important step towards containing the spread of FMD and strengthening animal health systems in our region,” she said.

South Africa faces criticism over vaccination strategy

The latest campaign comes as neighbouring South Africa faces mounting criticism over its own FMD vaccination rollout strategy.

Farmer-led group FMD Response SA has warned that the Department of Agriculture’s phased vaccination programme is unlikely to achieve herd immunity fast enough to stop the disease from spreading.

The organisation said South Africa’s plan to vaccinate 80% of its 14 million cattle herd by December 2026 has a 90% to 95% chance of failure because vaccine-induced immunity may decline before the full herd is covered.

“The only way to stop the disease spreading is to ensure that the country’s 14 million cattle are vaccinated within a tight timeframe of six to eight weeks,” FMD Response SA said.

According to the group, successful vaccination campaigns in countries such as Brazil and Argentina relied on vaccinating national herds within strict timelines followed by booster vaccinations six months later to maintain immunity.

As of April 23, 2026, South Africa had vaccinated just under 2.6 million animals. 

By May 5, authorities had allocated almost 3.6 million vaccine doses, representing about 60% of the six million vaccines reportedly received by the government.

FMD Response SA spokesperson Andrew Morphew criticised delays in vaccine distribution and the government’s continued control over vaccine administration.

“Private distribution is essential to ensure vaccines reach farms timeously and are administered effectively at the farm level,” Morphew said.

“Requiring the state to centrally control distribution leads to bottlenecks and delays.”

South Africa’s Department of Agriculture recently gazetted a voluntary vaccination scheme under the Animal Diseases Act, allowing private farmers to vaccinate livestock through public-private partnerships under state supervision.

However, industry groups argue that the programme still limits private-sector participation and may slow efforts to contain outbreaks.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe said the remaining vaccine doses donated by Botswana will be used during the second phase of the vaccination campaign scheduled for next month as authorities intensify surveillance and disease monitoring efforts to protect the national herd.

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