Patrols tightened as shooting of Zim stray cattle starts

In a response to written enquiries yesterday, Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security deputy permanent secretary, Kekgonne Baipoledi said “security agencies” were also participating in the surveillance.

After a three-month grace period, the shoot to kill policy kicked off on August 26, with Zimbabwe media reports last month claiming more than 30 cattle had been shot within the first two weeks of the policy. “According to the protocol for control of animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth, any animals killed for such purpose are burnt to ashes and buried/disposed off,” Baipoledi said, while declining to confirm or deny the Zimbabwean reports on numbers of cattle killed. He added: “Farming communities living along or near the boundary are advised to be vigilant, control movement of their livestock as well as report any illegal activity or any livestock showing signs of disease to the nearest government official.”