08 Jul 2025

Government intends to maintain Kilo 70 camp and the Botswana-Namibia border cordon fence as a strategic infrastructure, not only for use by my ministry, but by other government agencies, such as the defence and security agents.

This was said by the acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti when answering a question in parliament on July 7. He said the camp was established following the outbreak of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) or cattle lung disease in the disease control zone 2 (Ngami, Okavango) in 1995, as part of the disease control infrastructure, to prevent re-introduction of the disease from Namibia.

The project included the construction of staff houses at the camp and was completed in 2002. Although the outbreak was eradicated and the CBPP free status restored in 1996, he said the risk of reintroduction of the disease persisted even today, as the northern parts of Namibia and the southern parts of Angola remained endemic for the disease.

Furthermore, Dr Dikoloti said other important trans-boundary diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, and goat plaque were most likely to be introduced into Botswana through these countries. However, he said the allocated budget for maintenance of disease control infrastructure was seldom adequate and fell far short of what was required. However, he said his ministry would continue to seek innovative and more sustainable ways of maintaining disease control infrastructure, including partnerships with the private sector and communities living along the infrastructure. 

Moreover, he said the cost of construction of the camp, which comprised 11 two-roomed houses, one three-roomed house, one storeroom, and two Daisyloo toilets was approximately P400 000. Dr Dikoloti added that the camp had been vacant since 2014, after the staff were relocated to other areas, on welfare basis, when it proved difficult to provide for their basic needs such as water, transport and security.

He was answering a question from Okavango East MP, Mr Gabatsholwe Disho, who had asked the minister to appraise the house on what the government intended doing with Kilo 70 camp in the Okavango East in which a lot of modern houses were built. He also wanted to know how much was spent for their construction and how long these houses had been there without being occupied. ENDS