28 Mar 2018

A number of legislators have expressed disapproval to changes proposed to Matimela legislation through the Matimela Bill of 2017.

The Bill, which was tabled for second reading by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane on Monday, seeks to re-enact with amendments, the Matimela Act to provide for collection, reporting and sale of Matimela in Botswana.

Changes proposed in the Bill include the reduction from 30 to 14 days the time for the chief to relay to council the presence of matimela reported to him, the reduction from 30 to 14 days the period within which a council is mandated to collect the reported matimela, and the reduction from 14 to five working days the period for matimela officers to notify council of matimela in their custody.

Furthermore, the bill proposes to establish a 14-day period within which owners of livestock placed in the matimela facility could identify their livestock and pay prescribed fees in order to get them back, and reduces from six to three months the period within which the owner may claim their livestock before they are deemed to have been abandoned and sold accordingly.

Among the legislators who opposed the changes was the Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane, who pointed that it would disadvantage poor farmers who do not have resources to put their livestock in ranches.

He said the reduction of the period for councils to keep matimela in their custody before selling them would result in the increase in the number of farmers who lose their livestock after they have been declared matimela.

“Reducing the period of keeping livestock (in matimela facilities) is going to end up impoverishing people who do not many cattle,” complained the legislator.

He asked government to understand that many factors including grazing livestock in communal pastures and having to do menial works to survive often lead to poor farmers losing livestock from their custody.

Mochudi West MP, Mr Gilbert Mangole was another legislator who opposed the Bill, expressing concern that it did not have provision for establishment of the matimela fund.

Mr Mangole said there used to be such fund where monies accrued from selling matimela was kept.

He said money from the fund was used to reimburse farmers who came to make valid claims within a stipulated period that they were unable to collect their livestock before being sold as matimela.

The legislator complained that the absence of that fund would lead to many farmers leaving empty handed when their livestock had been sold as matimela, hence render them poor.

He further said the proposed period for livestock to be declared as matimela was too short and would disadvantage farmers.

He however agreed with the proposal to outsource collection of matimela, saying it would result in effectiveness in collecting missing livestock.

Molepolole South MP, Dr Tlamelo Mmatli said the Bill was cruel on farmers.

He said livestock should not be declared as matimela when they have information such as brand marking and ear tags which could be used to identify owners of the livestock.

He therefore said farmers should be informed when their livestock are put in matimela facilities.

However, Tonota MP, Mr Thapelo Olopeng was of the view that changes proposed by the Bill would force farmers to take better care of their livestock compared to what is currently happening.

He said currently farmers do not take good care of their livestock, which end up causing road accidents in major highways.

Mr Olopeng, who supported the Bill, urged the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security to collaborate with technology developers to come up with a system which could be used to track missing livestock to avoid having many matimela.

Shoshong MP, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele urged government to introduce reforms aimed at limiting the movement of livestock. He said one such reform would be the implementation of the Fencing Policy of 1991, which could reduce incidents of missing cattle.

Mahalapye West MP, Mr Joseph Molefe said passing the Bill would result in improvement in the management of matimela. ENDS