President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has warned businesses against inflating prices under the guise of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, saying the crisis must not be used to exploit consumers and affected communities.

“This outbreak must not become an opportunity to exploit distress through inflated prices,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said in a high-level address on the FMD outbreak today.

She called on businesses supplying livestock products, critical materials and emergency supplies to act responsibly as government implements measures to contain the disease.

The resident said the response should support both containment and recovery, as movement restrictions and disruptions to trade continue to place ppressure on farmers, workers and businesses across the livestock val

Her warning comes as government intensifies its response to the outbreak, with 127 positive cases recorded across 15 farms after 29 313 animals were inspected on 68 farms. Nandi-Ndaitwah urged all stakeholders to cooperate with authorities and rely on verified information.