04 Dec 2013

Some councillors have expressed disappointment regarding the decision taken by government to kill cattle that cross the buffer fence into the delta.

They said the decision was not a solution as the elephants continued to destroy the buffer fence despite efforts made by the farmers and the government to maintain it.

They aired their views when responding to the chairman’s speech that as it was indicated that 34 cattle had been destroyed in accordance with the laid down OIE Foot and Mouth Disease control protocol.

Councillors noted that Ngamiland had traditionally depended largely in the livestock industry for livelihood, supplemented by hunting and arable farming. Therefore, killing cattle would increase poverty in the area. They said farmers had long raised concern about this protocol moreso that the fence that controlled the movement of cattle is old and worn out.

They called on the government to come up with solid solutions to the problem and suspend the current decision. Cllr Pelokgale Monyame asked the government to come up with some better measures in place to rectify the situation, adding that the decision did not benefit the farmers.

He said the problem was not the cattle but rather elephants that roamed the area and ended up destroying the buffer fence. In addition, he said the government money was wasted on maintaining the fence that continued to be destroyed by elephants.

Cllr Allen Sokwe said the North West District always suffered setbacks because of livestock diseases such as foot and mouth disease and there had been no solution. He said killing cattle was like impoverishing farmers who were already poor because they could not sell their cattle.
Cllr Vepaune Moreti observed that the decision to kill the cattle was a serious blow to many farmers, noting that some might sue the government as they had long complained about the matter.

He said it was disheartening as farmers continued to make efforts to maintain the buffer fence with a view to rectifying the situation but it seemed that the relevant department was not appreciating those efforts. He said the Department of Veterinary Services should come up with interventions before they could resort to the last option of killing cattle.

Mr Lathang Molonda, the council chairperson, said a booster programme for crushes that were along the buffalo fence was carried out and it was during the exercise that cases of incursions of cattle into the delta were experienced. As a result, 34 cattle had to be destroyed in accordance with the laid down OIE foot and mouth disease control protocol.

Mr Molonda said it had been observed that during the drought, cattle were attracted by the greener grass on the delta and ended up crossing the buffer fence.  He said the situation therefore calls for all the concerned stakeholders to come together and come up with solid solutions to the problem. Ends