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CATTLE QUARANTINE ENTERS 3RD MONTH

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MALINDZA – Livestock farmers at Malindza and surrounding areas say they will have a gloomy Christmas and they will have no money to pay school fees for their children because of a cattle quarantine that was imposed two months ago.

The Ministry of Agriculture imposed the quarantine following fears that three Buffalos that had arrived at Sikhuphe, from Zambia, could be infested with the deadly foot and mouth disease. The buffalos were a gift to His Majesty the King from Zambian President Edgar Lungu and, according to Zambian media; they were flown into the country on September 3. Livestock farmers have called upon authorities to immediately lift the cattle quarantine because it has destroyed the cattle business in the area, their only source of income. They are unhappy that they are no longer able to sell livestock to local buyers or markets in other parts of the country due to the quarantine.
“Our only source of livelihood has been taken away from us. This is a drought-stricken area and we can’t cultivate crops but we rely on cattle farming,” said Jabulani Dlamini, who is also a chairperson in one of the dip tanks around Malindza. Dlamini added that his children had been expelled from school because of owed school fees, which he could not afford.

“I had planned to sell a beast in order to get money to settle the debt but I couldn’t after I had learnt that cattle in our area had been quarantined,” said Dlamini. He further said most impoverished families in the area usually sold livestock in order to get money to purchase food and other basic amenities. He stated that the cattle quarantine has worsened the poverty situation in the area. Another livestock farmer from Malindza, Albert Mkhatjwa, said his family would have a gloomy Christmas because there would be no money for a Christmas celebrations. He stated that most families in the area usually sold cattle during the festive season in order to have money for Christmas celebrations.
“Government should do something about this situation before it gets very serious,” he stated. Sipho Khumalo, another livestock farmer from Malindza, said he had planned to sell some of his livestock before the drought became  serious.
However, now that cattle quarantine has been imposed, Khumalo wondered how livestock farmers were going to sell off their cattle.

Another livestock farmer, Phulula Fakudze, said he was struggling to pay school fees for his children because of the cattle quarantine. “We have also been banned from taking our cattle to other areas,” he said. Nokuthula Shiba, also a livestock owner, wondered why government had not suspended the impounding of stray cattle on public roads around the area yet cattle from the area had been banned from leaving the area. “They impound cattle from Malindza and take them to Manzini and Matsapha yet they are telling us that our livestock should remain within the borders of this area. This is unfair,” she said. The livestock farmers met veterinary officials from the Lubombo region at Malindza on Friday. It was gathered that, during the meeting, farmers expressed their concern about the cattle quarantine, which has now entered its third month. Dvokodvweni Member of Parliament (MP), Musa Sitezi Dlamini said the quarantine has had a negative impact on the economic life of most people in his constituency. “Cattle is our gold in this area so if we can no longer sell or buy  cattle then we will struggle,” said Dlamini.

 

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