03 Mar 2026

A farmer in Leporung lost all his 20 cattle and might earn himself a charge not exceeding P5 000 or five years imprisonment for contravening the Animal Disease Control Act chapter 37:01.

This comes after the said farmer, Mr Othusitse Tsamaesi, illegally cut the cordon fence on Thursday night for his cow to cross into Botswana from neighbouring South Africa where numerous cases of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) had been reported.

According to Mr Tsamaesi, he received a report that his cow had been spotted in the South African side of the cordon fence.

Despite knowing that FMD control protocols prohibit animals from infected areas back into green zones, he went ahead and cut the fence to herd his animal back to its kraal.

Through numerous kgotla meetings that were held in our village, we were told about the dangers of FMD, I do not know what got into me to do what I did, Mr Tsamaesi confessed.

Veterinary officers were on Friday, alerted by cluster police that a certain man was suspected to have cut the cordon fence and tracked his animal from an infected area into the country and in an area that was disease free.

Acting Principal Veterinary Officer, Mr Montlamedi Keboitse, explained that they were able to apprehend the culprit who confessed that indeed he had cut the cordon fence and tracked one of his animals to his farm to join others.

He said for violating FMD control measures, Mr Tsamaesi would be fined and all the cattle in his kraal destroyed.

“We have decided to destroy all the cattle in the kraal since we do not know the status of the cow which was brought in from South Africa,” he said.

Mr Keboitse said cutting the cordon fence contravened the animal disease control act and was damage to government property and

He said what happened put the entire Zone, 11 which stretched from the South of Botswana all the way Kuke gate and Dibete in risk because even if just one animal tested positive for FMD, the whole area would be declared a red zone, and Botswana would lose the lucrative European Union market.

The worst case scenario, he said was that if all the animals in Zone 11 were to be killed, restocking would be a challenge because the Northern zone had been restocking with cattle acquired from the Southern part of the country.

The Botswana Meat Commission too is at high risk because it would close down, and jobs would be lost in the process.

So far, at least 68 cattle belonging to Batswana have been destroyed after they were found in the red zone.

Mr Keboitse stated that Leporung and Phitshane villagers were habitual perpetrators. ENDS