The Veterinary Association of Zambia VAZ, has expressed skeptic over the implementation of budget allocations to the livestock sector in the 2025 national budget.
While acknowledging that the budget allocation to deal with diseases of national and international importance was on point, VAZ emphasizes the need for efficient disbursement of the allocated funds.
Speaking in a recent interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), the President of VAZ, DR. Malcolm Chiyoba, stressed the importance of addressing diseases that could potentially affect neighboring countries, stressing the government’s responsibility to ensure the effective utilization of allocated resources.
He expressed optimism that the allocated funds would be released but underscored the necessity of directing resources towards addressing human resource challenges within the livestock sector.
The Veterinary Association of Zambia president urged the government to consider allocating resources to the employment of surgeons and paraprofessionals within the sector, emphasizing the crucial role of human resources in ensuring the effective management of livestock and disease control.
Dr. Chiyoba revealed that a sum of K1.8 billion had been allocated to the Ministry, underscoring the significance of proper implementation and utilization of these funds to address critical issues within the livestock sector.
“Like you may know some of the diseases, we have to help our neighbors we should not let them go out there, we have to deal with them and the government has the responsibility to be with us and make those allocations and we are so sure that the money will be released.” He said.
Chiyoba added that the government should also consider allocating some of the resources to addressing issues of human resource in the Livestock sector.
“The government needs to make those allocation, but we are so sure that the money will be released but issues of the human resource, we hope the government also addresses employment of surgeons and paraprofessionals.” He said.
