Story by Fungai Jachi
GOVERNMENT says it is on course to increase the national herd, with the country now boasting of over five million cattle, marking a two percent increase from last year.
Zimbabwe is ramping up efforts to grow its national herd to 12 million cattle by 2034, a target now within reach, as the government has put in place measures to protect cattle from tick borne diseases.
This was revealed by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, during this Wednesday’s National Assembly question and answer session.
“I would like to inform the nation that contrary to popular belief our national herd is actually growing because now we have 5.7 cattle marking a two percent increase from last year. As a government, we have ensured that we have vaccines for cattle, especially for cattle in areas affected the most by tick-borne diseases,” he said.
The mushrooming of unregistered private schools also came under the spotlight.
“We are concerned by the proliferation of such schools, but we have a grace period to do the right thing, which is to register the schools and regularise their operations. We did not want to disadvantage the learners and so we have given them until December to put their houses in order, come January, we will be forced to close them down if they are not registered,” Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Torerayi Moyo said.
Parliamentarians also quizzed what the government is doing to ensure the durability of the newly constructed roads.
“We are looking seriously into setting up weigh bridges along Highways and ensuring that there is adherence to the limited weight requirements of goods. This is to enable our roads to be protected from damage,” Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, said.
Questions on climate resilient infrastructure, water harvesting and the availability of adequate public transport were also discussed.
