• The pig industry is contributing almost 75 percent to Gross Domestic Product.
• 60 percent of youths in Lusaka are into pig business.
• Government should come up with mobile testing of animals.

Small Livestock Association of Zambia (SLAZ) says the pig industry contributes about 75% percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), hence the ban on movement of pigs and pig products as a result of the African Swine Fever has negatively affected the sector.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Association Chairperson Charles Malama said most Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country are into pig business.
Mr. Malama stated that about 60 percent of young people depend on the pig industry for survival as most of them slaughter the animals, while others work on pig farms, with the majority being into transportation of the animals to various markets.
“It has affected the farmers because if you talk of the pig industry, it is contributing almost 75 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Most SMEs in the country are into pig business.”
“Butcheries that we have across the country depend on the pig industry and those people who do braais in lodges and other places have been affected by the ban on pig movements in Lusaka province,” Mr. Malama said.
He noted that farmers have complied with the ban in Lusaka Province as there are no pigs being sold at the three main livestock markets in the city.
And Mr. Malama called on government to come up with mobile testing of animals so that that test negative to African Swine Fever can be allowed to be sold, unlike the current situation where even pigs that have not been affected by the disease are not allowed to be transported to the market.
““We are appealing to the government to find measures which can ensure that the business is back as soon as possible. They should come up with mobile testing of animals like we have got mobile clinics.”
“If they test and find that the animals are African Swine Fever free, automatically they can be allowed for business not whereby they just do it at random, where even animals which are not affected are not allowed to be sold,” he stated.
Government has banned all movement of pigs, pig products and any by-products in Lusaka province following the outbreak of African swine in six districts within the region.
However, provinces outside Lusaka have been allowed to trade and move pigs and pig products provided they get a movement permit from the veterinary offices to show that the pigs are not infected with the African swine fever.