23 Mar 2015

Kweneng District Councilors (KDC) are of the view that impounded cattle (matimela) will be ideally placed at the Ministry of Agriculture since they have the animal husbandry expertise and all the necessary information.

Councilors said this during a consultative meeting that was addressed by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, in Molepolole on March 18.

The forum sought to appreciate views and supporting arguments of councilors relating to the matimela amendment bill. Most councillors agreed that it would be better to move matimela to the Ministry of Agriculture and hike penalty fees. Increasing the penalty, they said, would force farmers to look after their cattle.

Councilors stated that besides the expertise, the ministry of agriculture also had crucial information of the owner of the cattle such as contact numbers and identity numbers, something that could help trace the owners quickly and efficiently.

Furthermore the councillors requested that matimela should be broadcast on Radio Botswana and Botswana Television and published in the DailyNews before being sold. Some councillors, however, argued that matimela should remain with council because they were a source of revenue.

Councillor for Boribamo West Mr Moses Mmualefhe said it is not proper to centralize services especially those that can earn the council income. On the other hand, some councilors contended that the new bill that proposes to reduce the 30 days period in the current act making provision for Bogosi to pass on reports of the presence of matimela made to them by any person to the Matimela officer within 30 days is quite short.

The bill proposes to reduce this period to 14 days of receiving the report. Councilors said farmers might still be in search of their lost cattle during this period.

Responding to their comments, Minister Tshireletso said questions such as whether contemporary Botswana still needs the service of Matimela necessitated these kind of consultative forums country wide given the escalating costs of maintenance and sustenance of livestock as compared to the returns made from managing matimela. Combining the two, she said the whole exercise in the long run is unsustainable.

Some sections in the act include the amendment of the sale of Matimela. The current act on this section says an animal that has not been claimed under Section 10 (1) within 6 months from the date on which it was placed in a matimela kraal or is deemed to have been abandoned under Section 10.2 is liable to be sold. The new proposal is to reduce the six months period to three months. ENDS