26 Jun 2023

Farmers who lost their livestock to cross-border livestock rustling should register for special livelihood package which will assist them with restocking.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in villages of Gobojango and Mabolwe, recently, Bobonong  MP, Mr Taolo Lucas called on his electorate to register and benefit from the envisaged exercise.

The MP informed his constituents that there was an ongoing registration exercise meant to collect data on those who lost their livestock conducted by social welfare, dikgosi and officers from ministry of agriculture.

Although he encouraged his electorate to register in good numbers, Mr Lucas dissuaded those who did not qualify against trying some fraudulent acts.

Meanwhile, the MP commended his electorate for their resilience and intransigence in combating cross-border stock theft until the scourge was addressed.

“I have seen you battle this theft tooth and nail until it subsided to this point. It is your democratic right to fight for what is rightfully yours,” said MP Lucas.

The MP encouraged his constituents to emulate the same resilience and fortitude they employed in fighting stock theft towards addressing a lot of issues they faced in their communities.

The cross-border stock theft is not over yet. 

The envisaged restocking exercise may reignite the scourge and as such the Bobonong legislator warned his constituents to keep a hawk eye.

“We can safely say the situation has subsided, but I warn you against letting your guard down, said Mr Lucas.

However, the situation has reportedly been helped by the Zimbabwean farmers, along the border with Botswana, who also  formed mephato to combat theft from the other side of Shashe River.

Mr Lucas also appealed to farmers to tend to the cordon fence that prohibits their livestock from crossing into Zimbabwe or just going to drink from Shashe River, so as to curb the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease.

Amplifying the MP was Dr Olefile Phalaagae from department of veterinary services, saying that livestock that crossed the cordon fence would not be returned to Botswana. 

“The identified livestock can be sold in Zimbabwe and the farmers compensated with the proceeds of sale.”

The move, he reiterated and emphasised, was meant to control the spread of FMD in zone seven which shared a border with Zimbabwe.

He explained that Zimbabwean cattle found to have strayed into Botswana was driven back. 

Dr Phalaagae also informed farmers that his department held a meeting in January with Zimbabwean counterparts and farmers to encourage the latter against letting their cattle stray into Botswana.

The Zimbabweans, he said, also showed some concerns regarding cross-border theft. Ends