08 Jan 2026

Government is doing all in its power to ensure that the county’s green zones maintain their status.

This follows reports of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in South Africa’s North West province, which forms the southern boundary of Botswana.

With Botswana being a significant beef exporter to the EU market, the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, has made a clarion call for Batswana to jealously protect the beef and livestock industry from the dreadful disease, by observing the laid disease control protocols.

The situation in the neighboring South Africa could ruin lives should the disease make its way into Botswana, the ministry of agriculture permanent secretary, Mr Kabelo Ebineng cautioned during a recent tour of the livestock disease control cordon fence along Molopo River.

He warned farmers to look after their cattle and ensure no contact with those of their neighbours in South Africa. Control measures will include destroying of animals from Botswana that cross over to South Africa where the disease has been detected. 

Animal disease control legislation empowers authorised persons to destroy animal infected or suspected of being infected or any animal which has been in contact with a diseased animal.

Farmers whose livestock will be destroyed will receive P700 compensation per cow and P200 for a goat while repeat offenders will only be entitled to P200 compensation for a cow and P25 per goat, Mr Ebineng stated.

Government erected a veterinary cordon fence along Molopo River between 2023 and 2024 in response to the FMD scare in South Africa’s North West Province and to protect Botswana’s cattle industry.

It also drilled boreholes along the frontier to keep livestock away from the river and surface water sources close to the border.

Mr Ebineng explained that any outbreak of FMD within a 10 kilometre radius from the export abattoir could cause cessation of operations at Botswana Meat Commission.

He also explained that the disease also posed a threat to the imported bulls and semen at Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination Ranch.

Meanwhile, there were reports of some farmers who continued to vandalise the fence and water their cattle in the river hence risking contact with South Africa livestock. BOPA