FMD Progress Across Southern Africa as Vaccines Roll Out but Parliamentary Pressure for Deeper Reform Mounts

South Africa has vaccinated more than 5.3 million cattle — 43% of its national herd — but its parliamentary agriculture committee is warning that vaccines alone cannot end the outbreak without deeper reforms to veterinary capacity and enforcement, as Zimbabwe procures 1.2 million doses to contain a SAT 1 outbreak near Botswana and Zambia partially lifts its South African livestock import ban.

South Africa’s parliamentary agriculture committee has pressed the government to accelerate structural reforms alongside its vaccination campaign, warning that broader changes to veterinary capacity, funding and enforcement are essential to ending the country’s foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Government figures show progress: more than 2 million animals had been vaccinated by mid-April, rising to 4.4 million by late May and exceeding 5.3 million cattle — equivalent to 43.12% of the national herd — by 23 June, tracked via a real-time industry dashboard.

Zimbabwe has simultaneously procured 1.2 million FMD vaccine doses as it responds to an outbreak in Mangwe district, Matabeleland South, near the Botswana border. Laboratory tests confirmed the SAT 1 serotype following detection of 54 cases at Maholi and Hannavale dip tanks on 5 January 2026. Authorities believe buffaloes observed in communal areas two months earlier were the likely source. Pious Makaya, Zimbabwe’s chief director of veterinary services, has underlined that reducing buffalo-cattle contact is central to controlling repeated outbreaks in areas bordering wildlife reserves including Gonarezhou National Park.

Regional trade flows are beginning to normalise. Zambia has partially lifted the blanket livestock import ban it imposed on South Africa in February 2026, shifting to case-by-case assessment of selected cloven-hoofed animals, processed dairy products and heat-treated meat products. Charles Maseka, director of veterinary services at Zambia’s Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, said all shipments must still satisfy strict import conditions and formal veterinary approval, with restrictions subject to ongoing review in line with South African developments.