FAO strengthening livestock dipping practices in Zimbabwe
Sustainable livestock disease control is crucial for protecting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the country.

Part of the 249 farmers that have been trained to help strengthen dipping practices and reduce cattle deaths as a result of tick-borne diseases.
©FAO/ Donald Chidoori
The FAO managed and USAID-funded project "Mitigating the Impact of Livestock Diseases in Zimbabwe" is working to improve dipping practices and infrastructure across several districts in the country.
Over the past years, Zimbabwe has experienced multiple outbreaks of tick-borne diseases like theileriosis: also known as January disease, red water and heart water; often leading to large livestock deaths. “This is mainly due to lack of knowledge, poor dipping practices and poor dipping infrastructure,” says Dr Lindsay Muchetu, the government veterinary officer (GVO) in Shurugwi district.
To help strengthen dipping practices and reduce cattle deaths as a result of tick-borne diseases, the project is training local extension workers and livestock development committee members on effective dip tank management and governance.
"Proper dipping is critical to controlling ticks and tick-borne diseases that can devastate livestock herds," explained Roselyn Zvangaidza, the District veterinary officer for Chirumhanzu District who has been trained under the project. "The training has equipped us with the knowledge and skills to work with communities to ensure dipping is done correctly and consistently," added another trained District Veterinary Officer from Umzingwane District, Tsitsidzaishe Maravanyika.
Since 2023 when the project was launched, 186 veterinary extension officers and 249 farmers have been trained on topics such as dip tank maintenance, waste management, record-keeping, and mobilizing dipping levies to sustain operations.
“In particular veterinary extension officers were trained on sampling for theileriosis laboratory diagnosis, acaricide resistance testing, methods of controlling ticks, disease reporting and cattle cleansing regulation in a quest to fight against January disease,” said FAO project coordinator Felistas Ndhlovu.
The veterinary extension officers were also trained on sample collection, preservation, storage and shipping for Foot and Mouth Disease serotype O surveillance, a disease which is an emerging threat of a deadly strain of FMD which has not been reported in the country but reported in other Southern African countries.
Farmers were trained in theileriosis disease recognition, vector predilection sites, correct application of acaricides, maintenance of dip tanks, cattle cleansing regulation, methods of controlling tick population, acaricide resistance in livestock and dip tank governance issues.
“Capacitation of local extension workers and strengthening of livestock development committees is critical to ensure project sustainability, governance and maintenance of livestock infrastructure, ensuring long term benefits of donor funding and establishment of proper accountability systems,” said FAO livestock specialist Fortune Kachidza.
In addition to the training the project is also rehabilitating 40 diptanks that had dilapidated due to lack of maintenance. “Many of the dip tanks were in poor condition, with issues like damaged races, roofs, and collection pens,” said Loice Muza, a Veterinary Extension Supervisor in Shurugwi District.
The project is also installing 20 boreholes to provide water for the diptanks. Loice Muza, emphasizes the critical role these boreholes will play. "Access to water has been the biggest challenge, leading to irregular dipping and devastating livestock losses. This support is a game-changer that will save countless animals and livelihoods."
To ensure project sustainability the committees are also learning about establishing revolving funds, mobilizing dipping levies to sustain operations and taking up insurance for protection against theft, damage, and vandalism of dip tank infrastructure.
With capacitation of farmers in dip tank rehabilitation and maintenance, the project team is confident that the interventions will have a lasting impact. "By strengthening the capacity of committees to manage and maintain the infrastructure, we are ensuring the communities can effectively manage and maintain the dip tanks long after the project ends," Fortune Kachidza said.
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