27 Sep 2023

The public has been advised against consuming meat of livestock affected by Dermatophilosis, Senkobo in vernacular. The call was made by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao, when updating the Okavango District full council meeting on September 26.

Mr Molao said research had shown that the disease could be transmitted to humans if they consumed affected livestock. Senkobo which affected livestock infected by bont tick, he said, was first recorded in the Okavango district in 2015 although cases were recorded in other districts like Chobe way before that.

He said the disease was still spreading in the Okavango District to date hence the ministry employed an exercise to sensitize farmers on how to frequently dip their cattle.

He also said failure to perform regular dipping of cattle by some farmers was a setback in controlling the disease. He said about 4000 livestock with some being cattle, donkeys, horses and goats have died from Senkobo in the Okavango District to date.

To cushion farmers from the expenses on treatment of Senkobo, Mr Molao said, government had taken a decision to include Senkobo and bont tick medications in the drought subsidy for farmers. He added that the his ministry had partnered with Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) to carry out research on Senkobo and its treatment and were hopeful to have results in two weeks.

He said the plan was to have effective dips that would last longer on the animals hence lessen the frequency of dipping.

When commenting, Councilor for Qangwa/Xaixai, Mr Lelejwang Sokwe, said farmers were battling Senkobo yet the department responsible had lack of resources such as vehicles.

Cllr Sokwe raised concern about cordon fences which he said were dilapidated therefore did not serve their purpose. He however appreciated the drought subsidy on medicines for Senkobo and bont tick.

Councilor for Gumare-Tubu South, Mr Keobinetse Matenanga, complained about shortage of staff in the Ministry of Agriculture in Gumare and surrounding areas, adding that their area was prone to animal diseases. He suggested that government should assist farmers with the dipping exercise occasionally.

Councilor for Sepopa/Ikoga, Mr Botshelo Mapa, said government should commit resources and wholly respond to bont tick outbreak the same way it did with tsetse fly control. ENDS