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.
