Chirumhanzu district in the Midlands province continues to face a severe livestock crisis, with communities now battling foot-and-mouth disease on top of another deadly outbreak that struck since 2024.
In January 2024 thousands of cattles were lost accross the region, and in junaury 2026 at least 13 cattle were recorded dead in Ndika and Vhudzi villages after a mysterious disease swept through the area. While farmers were still trying to recover from those losses, a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has now emerged, further threatening the remaining livestock.
Local resident Mary Museyamwa confirmed that foot-and-mouth is currently the major problem affecting the community.
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“Our focus is now more on taking care of the animals that are still alive than working in the fields because many people have already lost most of their livestock,” she said.
She added that the new outbreak has worsened an already difficult situation, as farmers depend on cattle for ploughing, milk.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral illness that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, goats, and pigs. It causes fever and painful sores in the mouth and on the feet, making animals weak and unable to feed properly.
The situation in Chirumhanzu reflects a wider regional problem. Earlier this week, hundreds of cattle belonging to villagers in Plumtree were shot dead by Botswana authorities after crossing the border. The authorities cited fears of the spread of livestock diseases, including foot-and-mouth.
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