01 Aug 2019

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Fidelis Molao says paying attention to the Kuke veterinary cordon fence is a must.

Briefing the media after touring the fence on August 4, Mr Molao said in view of the recurring FMD outbreaks in Ngamiland, there was need to ensure that the disease does not spread to Ghanzi region.

He said there was no other cordon fence after Kuke up to Lobatse region, adding that as much as they try to combat FMD in Ngamiland area, they should try their all not to suffer any setbacks in the Ghanzi area and other regions.

Mr Molao said they are forging collaboration with the District Commissioner and Council Secretary’s offices to share responsibility and resources; hence they were part of the familiarisation tour.

He conceded that the fence needed total reconstruction in the CKGR area, because elephants had destroyed it.

Minister Molao said there should also be shared responsibility between the ministry of agricultural development and food security and the department of wildlife to address the challenges brought about by elephants. He was hopeful that lifting the hunting ban would help, saying once elephants are hunted they would relocate to faraway places.

He urged farmers along the fence to also join the effort by monitoring and performing minor maintenance of the fence. Due to inefficiency of gum pole, he said they are considering the use of concrete poles.

Ghanzi Veterinary Services Superintendent, Mr Molaakgosi Baithuti revealed that they were carrying out routine maintenance and total re-construction coupled with de-bushing of the 230 km stretch double cordon fence, from CKGR through Kuke to Mokaukau (where Botswana borders Namibia).

Mr Baithuti said in the CKGR area, they are doing total reconstruction of the fence because elephants had totally destroyed it, while part of it had reached its life span.

The completion of the construction of the fence, he said depends on the availability of materials, saying they will need a lot of materials. He said there are only 11 workers doing maintenance and reconstruction, who are complemented with the use of machinery.

Besides lowering the fence from 2.4 to 1.5 on elephants routes, he said they intend to use flexi fence and restraining boards in elephants’ routes as well as chilly-pepper to channel them into their routes.  This, he said will allow elephants movement without destroying the fence. 

He regretted that their suppliers bring substandard gum poles, which are just only treated outside.

At Tsau gate wildlife camp, Senior Wildlife Ranger, Mr Kagiso Kgetsi told the minister that elephants had destroyed ‘JoJo’ tanks and camp fence. ENDS