Cattle disease breaks out in Magoye

A suspected cattle disease has broken out in Magoye Constituency in Mazabuka District in the Southern Province of Zambia.

 The disease which is causing cattle to pass blood urine and stool is reported to have claimed 15 animals so far.

 Magoye Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Bennie Mweemba confirmed the out-break of the disease to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka.

Mr. Mweemba said the disease broke out on Friday last week and named the family at Mabanga village in Chief Sianjalika’s area as the most affected.

 The MP has since appealed to government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives to deploy Veterinary Officers to Magoye to contain the disease before it spreads to others districts in the province.

 “Yes, I can confirm that there is a disease out-break in my constituency. So far 15 cattle have died and the affected animals once diseased can’t graze. They pass blood urine and stool,” Mr. Mweemba said.

He expressed fears that any delays to intervene, the cattle population would soon be wiped out in the district.

 He stressed that most small scale farmers in Mazabuka depend on rearing animals not only for prestige but also for economic purposes.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mweemba has disclosed that heavy rains have blown off a roof at a 1 x 3 classroom block including a teacher’s house at Kalama Basic School in his constituency.

Mr. Mweemba said the incident occurred on Thursday last week and that no life has been lost.

The area MP has since written to the Office of the Vice President requesting for material and financial support from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).

ZANIS