Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. A MAJORITY of people in Zimbabwe do not own cattle, which is a symbol of African wealth, a development that exposes the level of poverty that the country is grappling with.
A latest Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) 2025 Rural Livelihoods Assessment report on cattle ownership reveals that far less than 50% of households in the country own cattle.
“About 66% of the households did not own any cattle,” the report read.
“Only 12% of the households owned cattle in excess of five animals.
“About 11% of the communities indicated that their livestock were in a poor condition.”
Statistics given in the report show that Mashonaland West is the highest with number of households that do not own cattle at 73%, followed by Manicaland and Mashonaland Central which are at 71%, Mashonaland East (70%), Matabeleland South (69%), Matabeleland North (60%), Midlands (59%) and Masvingo (57%).
“Most communities indicated that pasture availability (39%) and pasture quality (45%) was fair at the time of the assessment,” the report read.
The report further exposes discrepancies in livestock pricing in parts of Matabeleland South and other areas.
“The highest cattle prices were reported in Insiza (US$506) and the lowest were reported in Bulilima (US$191).
“The highest goat prices were reported in Insiza (US$51) and the lowest were reported in Mbire (US$20).”
On Community Access to Information on Infectious and Contagious Diseases, ZimLAC noted that about 72,6% of the communities had accessed information on rabies.
It also stated that information on listeria (6,1%) was the least accessed by communities.
“About 52,2% of the households reported to have received early warning information. Only 39,3% of these households had used the information to plan risk and mitigation response mechanisms,” ZimLAC reported.
On households which Received Information on Health and Nutrition, ZimLAC noted that access to nutrition and health information empowers communities and influences consumer behavioural changes.
The report states that nationally, 59,4% were reported to have received any information about health and nutrition.
“The majority of the households (58%) had their nearest health facility within a 5km radius, which is the recommended distance for health facilities.
“However, about 9% of households were travelling more than 10km to access a health facility.”
On the distance walked to the nearest primary school, the report stated that about 72% of the households had a primary school that was within a 5km radius.
On access to Information on Services for Victims of Physical and Sexual Abuse ZimLAC indicated that about 47% of the households had access to information on services available for victims of physical and sexual abuse.
The report further states that nationally, 39% of the households were accessing police services within one hour and 46% reported that the police services were offering victim friendly services.
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