04 Aug 2013

A scientific officer in the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has informed councillors in the Maun Administrative Authority that reports that they have been given P22 million to construct the protection zone fence in Ngamiland are not true.

He said the truth of the matter was that the P22 million was the budget for the whole country. “What they do is that they buy materials and stock them up at Dukwi and every office picks their own materials from there,” he explained. He said his office had received reports from concerned farmers about the protection zone fence regarding cattle that had crossed over before the fence was constructed.

“I can assure you that once the fence is done, farmers will be given a chance to cross over either side of the fence for a certain period of time and then after that we will close for good,” he said. For his part, the veterinary officer, Dr Tshepang Moeng said his department had revised a new movement protocol for slaughter stock in Zone 2.

He indicated that if farmers wished to slaughter domestic cloven hoofed animals for social activities such as weddings and funerals, they had to seek permission from the veterinary offices. Dr Moeng said in turn, an animal health inspector would go to inspect the animals and then issue one with a permit for movement to be slaughtered at an officially licensed slaughter facility.

He indicated that the same applied for farmers who wish to move animals from one zone to the other for rearing purposes.

“It should be noted that animals from Tsau and Habu cannot move to any other zone for rearing purposes,” he said. ENDS