The Matabeleland South has been hit by another cycle of acute shortage of pastures and water. Farmers in drought-prone region continue to watch helplessly as their livestock is slowly destroyed by successive droughts. The lack of pastures has been blamed on the raging drought due to poor rains recorded in the last rainy season. Districts in Matabeleland South which have been worst affected are Gwanda, Kezi, Mangwe and Bulilima. Matabeleland South is traditionally the backbone of the country’s cattle herd, but consecutive droughts have drastically reduced the herd to alarming levels, putting a strain on villagers. Phiri said livestock were being moved distances of between 10 and 15km to areas where pasture was still available and water points as many water sources had dried up. Some farm owners have in the past been fighting running battles with villagers over cattle that stray into their farms in search of pastures. ubAlert