22 Jun 2015

Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale, says Foot and Mouth Disease in the Ngamiland region needs concerted efforts or else the region will remain an economic disaster zone.

Addressing the District Development Committee (DDC) recently, Minister Molale implored the heads of departmenst to treat the FMD predicament like the cattle lung disease (CBPP), which was managed through concerted efforts.

He said FMD was an economic issue since the beef industry was suffering while the tourism sector was doing well in the region. Minister Molale observed that the FMD issue created human wildlife conflict because farmers blamed the elephants for escalation of FMD by causing destruction of the zonal fences.

Ngami Member of Parliament, Mr Thato Kwerepe also requested other government departments to own challenges that affected Ngamiland region such as the FMD crisis.

He noted with dismay that the FMD issue had been left for relevant departments and their ministries only. However, he said the problem affected the region since it made people dependant on government.

North West district commissioner, Ms Chabongwa Matseke informed the minister that Ngamiland region was prone to disasters such as FMD and floods which contributed to poverty.

Ms Matseke also pointed that that human wildlife issues were high in the region since the population of wild animals was increasing and affects both arable and pastoral farmers.
She said NWDC had a backlog of projects such as construction of destitute houses caused by difficulties in transporting materials to remote areas. Ends