Godfrey Mtimba
GUTU — Villagers and farmers in Gutu district are grappling with heavy cattle losses due to January Disease (theileriosis), amid a worsening shortage of dipping chemicals and shifting climate conditions that are fuelling the spread of ticks.
At least 258 cattle have died since January, according to veterinary authorities, raising alarm in a district where livestock are central to livelihoods.
January Disease, a tick-borne illness, is increasingly being linked to climate change in Zimbabwe.
Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns are altering tick habitats, making areas such as Gutu more susceptible to outbreaks.
Tovapei Mazhindu of Zvidzai Village in Chingombe Ward 39 said he lost three cattle to the disease in February.
“I am only left with two cattle after three succumbed to the disease. We are in a very difficult situation because my cattle are my source of wealth and draught power,” he said.
In Chatsworth Ward 12, farmers say the situation is deteriorating rapidly.
“We are calling for help from authorities to provide affordable dipping chemicals or supply our local dip tanks before we lose all our herds. Cattle are dying every day, and the situation is very serious,” said Memory Machingambi, a local farmer.
Gutu district veterinary officer, Tinovonga Mufukari, confirmed the scale of the outbreak in a report presented at a recent rural district development committee meeting.
“The district has recorded 4,364 cases since November last year. Of these, 1,016 cases were recorded between January and February, resulting in 258 deaths during the same period,” he said.
Gutu, which has an estimated cattle population of 146,649, now faces the risk of significant herd depletion if the outbreak is not contained.
Authorities say efforts are underway to promote regular dipping, but these are being undermined by shortages of acaricides.
“We are carrying out extensive awareness and educational campaigns through extension offices, urging farmers to adhere to dipping schedules,” Mufukari said, adding that limited supplies of dipping chemicals are hampering progress.
Government plans to ensure fortnightly dipping across the district have also stalled due to the shortages. Of the 147 dip tanks in Gutu, only 34,127 cattle—about 16% of the district’s herd—have been dipped so far.
Some villagers say their dip tanks have not been operational for over a year, contradicting official claims that support is ongoing. Many farmers say they cannot afford to purchase chemicals from private veterinary suppliers.
Experts warn that climate change is compounding the crisis. Warmer temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns are expanding tick habitats into previously unsuitable areas, increasing transmission rates of the disease.
The economic impact is severe, particularly in rural communities where cattle are a primary source of wealth, food security, and agricultural power.
Agriculture and animal science experts say both government and farmers must adopt climate-smart strategies—such as targeted tick control and vaccination—to contain the spread of the disease and protect livelihoods.