23 Sep 2026

Farmers have been urged to work closely with the government and unite in the fight against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), as the outbreak continues to threaten the value of cattle and beef industry in Botswana.

Addressing a Kgotla meeting in Dikwididi, Department of Vertirinary Services director, Dr Kobedi Segale, said following confirmation of FMD in Kgatleng, the community should support government efforts to contain the disease.

He said government had introduced a vaccination programme in which cattle would undergo three rounds of vaccination administered 28 days apart and that vaccinations were currently taking place in different areas as authorities continued to contain the disease.

Dr Segale explained that cattle were particularly susceptible to FMD and vaccination was aimed at strengthening their immune response against the disease. “Vaccinated cattle are marked with a V on the right side to indicate that they have been vaccinated,” he said.

However, he cautioned farmers that vaccination did not mean cattle were completely protected from FMD. Vaccinated animals can still contract the disease, although vaccination can reduce its severity and effects.

Dr Segale further warned that vaccinated cattle could still transport the disease to unaffected areas hence farmers were urged to comply with movement restrictions and other instructions issued by veterinary authorities.

Famers were urged to cooperate with veterinary officers by bringing their cattle for vaccination and that vaccination was also being conducted in areas east of the A1 road all the way from Gamalete to Dibete, while surveillance was being conducted on the western side of A1.

Trickling challenges during vaccination include stray cattle and failure to know neighbours which Dr Segale said made it difficult for veterinary officials to locate all cattle for vaccination, particularly where livestock owners lived in the city.

Kgosi Letsebe Mpete of Dikwididi encouraged residents not to lose focus and continue mending containment fences as the only tried and tested measure to combat FMD.

Kgosi Letsebe said the meat industry was one of the mainstay of the economy, hence all should join hands to combat the outbreak and bring meat industry to normalcy.

A resident, Mr Thebe Ncube called for more containment zones, indicating that Zone 11 was too big and presented more challenges for farmers and veterinary officials, while Mr Kitso Ramocha encouraged fellow farmers to ensure cattle were taken to vaccination points because leaving behind some would regress the efforts to eradicate the disease. ends