Southern Africa charts buffer zone plan to keep Peste des Petits Ruminants at bay

ZAMBIA – Southern Africa had taken a significant step in safeguarding its livestock sector after veterinary authorities, policymakers, and international partners met in Lusaka, Zambia, to develop a coordinated buffer zone against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats. 

The three-day Regional Stakeholders’ Meeting, held from August 25 to 27, 2025, brought together officials from Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the European Union (EU).

The event formed part of the EU-funded PPR Eradication Programme (2023–2026), which aims to eliminate the disease across Africa while contributing to the global target of eradication by 2030.

Livestock as a lifeline

Zambia’s Minister of Livestock, Honourable Kapala, officially opened the meeting by underscoring the cultural and economic importance of small ruminants in Africa. 

“Livestock are not merely a food source; they represent dignity, wealth, and social stability,” he said. 

He highlighted Zambia’s commitment to strengthening surveillance and investing in cross-border buffer zones, while acknowledging persistent hurdles of limited resources and overstretched veterinary services. 

“Eradication is only possible if we work together; sharing best practices, harmonising our approaches, and supporting one another with the necessary resources,” Kapala stressed.

Technical updates from the FAO-led PPR Global Eradication Programme Secretariat reinforced the urgency of the meeting. 

PPR currently affects more than 70 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, threatening the livelihoods of over 300 million smallholder farmers. 

Annual global losses are estimated at between US$1.5 and US$2.1 billion, making eradication a critical component of poverty reduction and food security goals. 

While several countries have achieved official PPR-free status, weak veterinary systems, porous borders, and underfunded vaccination campaigns continue to fuel risks of spread.

Southern Africa at a crossroads

Although still free of PPR, Southern Africa remains vulnerable due to its proximity to endemic zones in East Africa. 

Five SADC countries and one zone in Namibia have already been recognised as PPR-free by WOAH, and most member states have developed national control strategies aligned with continental frameworks. However, shared grazing areas and unregulated cross-border animal movements pose significant threats of disease introduction.

Over the three days, participants reviewed regional risk maps, exchanged national reports, and worked in groups to design practical solutions on surveillance, vaccination logistics, animal movement control, and stakeholder engagement. 

The meeting culminated in the validation of a SADC Regional Action Plan, including the adoption of a buffer zone map and a resource mobilisation strategy to secure donor backing.

International partners signalled strong support. The EU Representative to Zambia, Stefanescu Bogdan, confirmed that the EU has already invested EUR 8 million (about US$8.8 million) in governance mechanisms through AU-IBAR. 

The EU is also considering a further EUR 50 million (about US$55 million) in grants along with up to EUR 40 million (about US$44 million) in blended financing, dependent on sustained political commitment from African governments.

Towards global eradication

The Lusaka gathering follows earlier regional meetings in West and Central Africa, with Eastern Africa scheduled to convene in early September. 

Together, these efforts feed into the PPR Global Eradication Programme, which estimates the worldwide cost of eradication at US$1.93 billion, an investment expected to deliver transformative returns for rural households, food systems, and economic stability.

For SADC, the meeting signalled not only the region’s resolve to remain PPR-free but also its determination to contribute to the 2030 global eradication goal. 

As FAO officials reminded delegates, the success of this campaign will ultimately hinge on political will, sustainable funding, and the active involvement of farmers themselves.

By the close of the Lusaka meeting, Southern Africa had positioned itself as both a beneficiary of international solidarity and an active contributor to one of the most ambitious animal health campaigns of the decade.

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