By Zvikomborero Machirori
Government, through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development has set in motion plans to revitalize veterinary institutions.
Veterinary institutions are instrumental in educating and protecting the health of both animals and people.
They work towards addressing the health and welfare needs of every species of animal and veterinarians also play critical roles in environmental protection, research, food safety, and public health.
Addressing journalists at a familiarization tour of Mazowe Veterinary College, deputy Minister of lands Davis Marapira said governments efforts to breathe life into veterinary institutions is in line with the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1.
NDS1 is government’s first 5-year Medium Term Plan aimed at realising the country’s vision 2030, while simultaneously addressing the global aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa Agenda 2063.
“The main plan of the Ministry of Lands is to modernise Mazowe Veterinary College and develop it into a state-of-the-art institution where students and the country can effectively benefit from,” said Marapira.
He added that graduates from the institution should also be able to contribute immensely to the development of the country’s agriculture sector.
Speaking at the same program, the college’s principal Nyamadzawo Donora bemoaned the absence of adequate land and training personnel.
“our greatest challenge is inadequate land yet it is a key component if we are to succeed. In the event that our livestock I creases, there will be further challenges,” said Donora and added: “Additionally, we only have four lecturers which is not ideal for an institution of this calibre.
The Mazowe Veterinary institution has been specializing in poultry farming breeding animals such as cattle, chickens, pigs and sheep’s and it also a training institution for Veritinarians.
