The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), which has long been Zimbabwe’s silent partner in livestock health, is set to significantly deepen its engagement with the nation’s agricultural sector. In a strategic pivot from merely supplying vaccines to actively collaborating on technical solutions, BVI will, for the first time, directly address the Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF) at their annual general meeting (AGM) next week in Harare.
This landmark move signals BVI’s commitment to bolstering livestock health and agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe, particularly within the critical dairy sector. With 67,000 head of cattle, the dairy industry represents a significant, albeit specialised, portion of Zimbabwe’s 5.7 million national herd.
Andrew Madeswi, Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Vaccine Institute, emphasised the shift in an exclusive interview: “We have historically been the sole supplier to Zimbabwe, which in turn manages the vaccination campaigns. Out of the 5.7 million cattle in Zimbabwe, 67,000 are in the dairy sector. We find this to be a compelling story for us to begin to work with the ZADF and decided to attend their AGM for the first time this year so that we could interact with them and hear them out.”
Madeswi further elaborated on BVI’s expanded role, stating, “Our attendance of the ZADF AGM is a clear testimony that we do not only want to dispatch vaccines but also offer technical support, including disease surveillance, diagnostics, and post-vaccination interventions.” This holistic approach is crucial for sustainable cattle farming and ensuring food security in the region.
The BVI chief, a key speaker at the upcoming AGM, issued a stark warning regarding an escalating foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) threat. He cautioned that the highly contagious viral disease, which can devastate cattle herds and impact beef production, is an “imminent regional threat,” with buffalo populations serving as natural carriers. This alarming prospect underscores the urgency of collaborative efforts in animal disease control and veterinary public health.
This proactive engagement by BVI is expected to significantly enhance Zimbabwe’s capacity to manage and mitigate livestock diseases, ultimately safeguarding the livelihoods of dairy farmers and contributing to the stability of the national food supply chain. The focus on direct technical support marks a new chapter in regional cooperation for animal health management.
