30 Mar 2023

Ministry of Agriculture has engaged a total of 428 casual labourers to assist in the repair of the Kuke veterinary cordon fence at a cost of over P647 000 this financial year. The Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale said in response to a parliamentary question on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao on Tuesday.

Mr Molale said the Ministry of Agriculture had prioritized maintenance of Kuke fence over other internal fence due to its importance in protecting not only Zone 12, which is Ghanzi District, but the rest of the country’s free zones to south (zones 4a, 4b, 8, 10, 11). He said a total of 195km out of 230km of veterinary cordon fence was maintained during this financial year.

“There are six fence erectors plus three drivers responsible for routine fence maintenance. However, the ministry has also engaged casual labourers to augment permanent staff who are also involved in the repair of the fence,” he said. The minister said he was aware of complaints raised by farmers in Ghanzi that the veterinary cordon fence between Ghanzi and Ngamiland districts was repeatedly destroyed by elephants thus exposing Ghanzi District to the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

He pointed out that in order to minimise the damage of fence by elephants, the ministry had embarked on an initiative to construct ‘flexi fence’ in hot spot areas. Mr Molale indicated that so far, flexi fence had been erected at two hot spot areas and the ministry was also considering installation of a buffalo cable in the Kuke fence in order to strengthen it. He said there were no immediate plans to electrify Kuke fence due to resource constraints, adding that, however, such option would be considered when the resource situation had improved.

Member of Parliament for Ghanzi North, Mr John Thiite had asked the minister if he was aware of complaints raised by the farmers in Ghanzi that the veterinary cordon fence between Ghanzi and Ngamiland districts was repeatedly destroyed by elephants thus exposing Ghanzi district to the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

The minister was also asked to appraise Parliament on the maintenance status of the 230 kilometres veterinary cordon fence and how many workers were engaged for routine maintenance of the fence. MP Thiite further wanted to know the measures put in place to address the risks and challenges posed by elephants destroying the fence and also establish whether as a matter of urgency the ministry would consider constructing an electric fence to mitigate possible threats of transmission of FMD into Ghanzi district as a matter of urgency.ENDS