Source: Zimbabwe reopens border to cloven-hoofed animals from the Western Cape
Zimbabwe has partially lifted its suspension on imports of live cloven-hoofed animals and products from South Africa, reopening trade from the Western Cape only. Animals will be accepted only from farms and compartments certified by Zimbabwean state veterinarians as meeting World Organisation for Animal Health standards.
Zimbabwe’s Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) confirmed the decision in a letter on 13 May, following a comprehensive import risk assessment. The ban, originally imposed due to concerns over the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in South Africa, will be eased for designated Western Cape farms and compartments approved by South African state veterinarians.
An FMD outbreak occurred in Zimbabwe in December 2025, and authorities are battling to contain its spread.
Under the new arrangement, Zimbabwean officials must inspect approved facilities and certify them compliant with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) biosecurity and disease control standards before animals can be shipped.
The WOAH sets global standards for disease control, testing, biosecurity, and the safe trade of animals and animal products. It requires member countries to report outbreaks, allowing the spread of diseases like FMD, avian influenza, and African swine fever to be tracked.
Dr Pious Makaya, chief director at the DVS, told Farmer’s Weekly that South Africa’s Directorate of Veterinary Services submits a list of farms and compartments deemed disease-free to Zimbabwe.
He added that only South African state veterinarians, not private veterinarians, may conduct tests to certify a farm as disease-free.
“Recently, we sent three of our veterinarians to a dairy farm in the Western Cape that wants to export to Zimbabwe,” Makaya said, adding that he was unable to give further information on the matter.
Wandile Sihlobo, South Africa’s Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land, said the Western Cape is among the provinces least affected by FMD and has advanced its vaccination efforts.
“This is encouraging, and we hope to see more provinces cleared as they make progress with vaccination,” he added.
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