Engagements of retired vets critical in FMD fight
22 Apr 2026
In a plea for stronger action, Kanye residents have urged the Department of Veterinary Services to engage retired veterinary officers.
The move will bolster efforts against the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak that continues to threaten livestock in the district.
They made a call during a kgotla meeting in Kanye addressed by Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti.
Community members argued that retired officers, with decades of practical experience in managing FMD outbreaks, could inject critical expertise into the ongoing response.
They expressed deep concern that while farmers work hard to contain the disease within their herds, wildlife, particularly wildebeest in the Lorolwane-Gasita area could easily undermine these efforts by spreading the highly contagious virus.
They pointed to the numerous natural pans (water points) in the Gasita- Lorolwane vicinity as high-risk hotspots, where livestock and wildlife inevitably mix while drinking, and creating ideal conditions for transmission.
Residents called for the urgent expansion of FMD surveillance to include active monitoring of wildlife.
One of the residents, Mr Mpho Kenosi further demanded for intensified surveillance measures, including blood testing of healthy cattle, to enable early detection and prevent silent spread.
Demonstrating community resolve, Badisa Kgomo Society secretary, Mr Kedibonye Laletsang pledged that the society would mobilise its members and farmers to actively herd cattle and join patrols aimed at supporting disease control.
In his address, Dr Dikoloti appealed to the community to revive and repair old barricade or drift fences and traditional barriers used to regulate livestock movement.
He warned that Zone 11 currently lacked sufficient infrastructure to effectively control animal movements. “Zone 11 has weak infrastructure for regulating livestock movement,” the acting minister said, urging residents to organise traditional regiments (work groups) to restore the fences.
Dr Dikoloti struck a note of cautious optimism, stating that with full community cooperation, Zone 11 could regain its Green Zone status: free from FMD restrictions within three to six months.
He confirmed that vaccination of cattle in affected areas was underway, running parallel with heightened surveillance outside the containment zone.
Dr Dikoloti further urged farmers to strictly adhere to veterinary guidelines by herding and kraaling their livestock, describing these age-old practices as vital weapons in the fight to stop further spread.
The meeting underscored a growing partnership between government and local communities, blending modern scientific tools like vaccination and laboratory surveillance with grassroots actions such as fence repairs, enhanced herding and community patrols.
With Botswana’s beef industry and rural livelihoods at stake, the people of Kanye made it clear that defeating FMD would require every available hand; from experienced retired professionals to ordinary farmers ready to roll up their sleeves.
Before FMD outbreak, Zone 11 was part of Botswana’s large FMD free zone without vaccination, often called the “Green Zone”.
The zone covers roughly two-thirds of the country and holds about 85 percent of the national cattle population.
Being FMD-free without vaccination allowed Botswana to export high-value beef to premium markets like the European Union, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Marvin Motlhabane
Location : Kanye
Event : Kgotla meeting
Date : 22 Apr 2026
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