For the first time people in Zone 11 are facing a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) scare, with such outbreaks having been mostly restricted to the northwest and north eastern parts of the country. A straying buffalo – a carrier of FMD virus – killed near Kanye in the Southern district has changed all that. Conflicting statements However by late Friday afternoon there was confusion over whether there has been relaxation on movement of animals after a statement supposedly released by the Veterinary Services said people in the area were allowed to slaughter livestock for social activities. The Ministry of Agriculture Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Pheko, however rebutted such claims. “It is not true that we have changed the conditions of the ban, we distance ourselves from that statement,” Pheko said on the phone. He added with a terse statement: “The Ministry of Agriculture wishes to remind members of the public that movement protocol restrictions imposed on April 12, 2016 in Zone 11 remain in force. Therefore, the Ministry refutes media allegations that the restrictions have been relaxed. The public is requested to remain calm as any new developments will be communicated to them”. The Veterinary statement had said among…