23 Jun 2026

In a country where beef is woven into everyday life, asking communities to forgo slaughtering cattle and transporting meat is no small sacrifice. Yet as Botswana continues battling an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), veterinary authorities insist that short-term inconvenience is the price that must be paid to protect a livestock industry that sustains thousands of livelihoods and contributes significantly to the national economy.

For many households in Kgalagadi and beyond, cattle are more than a source of income. They represent wealth, culture and security. But authorities warn that ignoring disease-control measures could jeopardise not only individual herds but also Botswana’s hard-earned access to lucrative international beef markets.

Despite movement restrictions and the suspension of slaughtering cloven-hoofed animals, some individuals continue to transport meat illegally into affected areas or slaughter livestock secretly.

Principal Agricultural Information Officer, Mr Ignacious Kgaodi, said such practices threatened months of disease-control efforts and increase the risk of spreading FMD to unaffected areas.

Mr Kgaodi  this said during a Foot and Mouth Disease awareness roadshow in Hukuntsi.that  people want access to meat, but the priority should be about  containing the disease first. 

Once that is achieved, normal livestock operations can resume safely. The restrictions have not only affected consumers. The impact is also being felt by businesses and workers who depend on the livestock value chain.

Across affected districts, butcheries have remained closed for months, leaving some employees without jobs and reducing economic activity in communities where livestock farming is the primary economic driver.

For Kgalagadi North, where crop production opportunities are limited by the semi-arid climate, the livestock sector remains a critical source of household income.

Mr Kgaodi said the restrictions are necessary to protect Botswana’s reputation as a beef exporter.

He noted that international trade standards require strict disease-control measures, warning that no country would willingly import livestock products from an area experiencing an active FMD outbreak. The country’s ability to regain and maintain export market access depends largely on how effectively the disease is contained.

Disease control is increasingly becoming a community effort. To address the demand for meat, Mr Kgaodi explained that there are established provisions through which meat can be legally sourced into the district, provided all veterinary requirements are met.

He further said a vehicle wheel bath has already been constructed near Kuke to disinfect vehicles entering livestock areas, while farmers in Ghanzi have pledged to establish a similar facility along the A2 Road. Plans are also underway to construct fencing along sections of the Khutse Game Reserve and the Namibian border to reduce contact between livestock and wildlife, which can contribute to disease transmission.

Beyond disease control, authorities are urging livestock owners to improve animal management practices by branding and tagging cattle, preventing animals from roaming freely and complying with movement regulations.

Kgosi Merapelo Tshwenyagae said farmers must view themselves as active partners in safeguarding the district’s economic lifeline. He noted that because farming remains the district’s economic backbone, it is essential for farmers to be continuously equipped with the knowledge and information they need, particularly during challenging times such as the current Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak.  He emphasised that farmers must actively participate in efforts aimed at protecting the livestock sector and contributing to the growth of the national economy.

With more than 78 000 cattle in the Kgalagadi livestock zone, the success of disease-control efforts will depend not only on government interventions but also on the willingness of communities to put collective interests ahead of individual convenience. ENDS