A poisonous shrub, lantana camara, is threatening to destroy the remaining national cattle herd in Matebeland South Province as it has already ravaged over 770 hectares of pasture land.
588 240 cattle are at the risk of dying in the province due to the combination of drought and the effects of the aggressive shrub.
Lantana camara is a toxic much-branched, upright, arching or scrambling shrub that usually grows to between two and four meters tall and forms dense thickets that affect agriculture land and pastures.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) provincial spokesperson, Mrs Sithembokhuhle Moyo, said Umzingwane, Matobo, Insiza, Bulilima and Mangwe were the worst affected districts.
Matabeleland South Provincial Administrator, Mr Mildard Khumalo, said though pastures had improved in the area, the rapid spreading of lantana camara remained a cause for concern.
He said there was also a need for Government to invest a lot of resources in addressing the spread of the invasive species.
- Herald
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