19 Oct 2026

Government has renewed the livestock export dispensation to help farmers recover from the economic effects of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, which has disrupted livestock movement and trade since January this year.

Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, announced in Gaborone on October 19 that the dispensation would allow live cattle exports for six months, while beef and beef products would be exported under a 12-month arrangement.

Dr Dikoloti said live cattle exports would be restricted to slaughter-ready steers, adding that the measures were intended to provide farmers with alternative markets while supporting the recovery of the livestock sector.

He said that the FMD outbreak had placed significant financial pressure on farmers and government, with approximately P97 million redirected towards disease control efforts.

The funds went towards supporting vaccination, surveillance, livestock movement controls, biosecurity and fencing measures to contain the disease.

Dr Dikoloti explained that the restrictions were necessary to protect the national herd and safeguard Botswana’s access to valuable livestock markets.

“The controls put in place were not meant to punish our farmers, but to protect their livelihoods, their national herd and the future of Botswana’s beef industry,” said Dr Dikoloti and acknowledged that the restrictions had affected farmers’ ability to meet financial obligations, pay workers and sustain their operations.

Nevertheless, he reported progress in containing the outbreak in several affected areas, for instance, in the North East, the outbreak had been officially closed following a three-round vaccination campaign covering approximately 35 000 cattle.

“A further 75 000 cattle along the Zimbabwean border were vaccinated to establish a protective buffer,” he said.

He pointed out that the last recorded case in the North East district was on March 16, 2026.

In Kgatleng, he said more than 90 000 cattle had received primary vaccination, with reported clinical cases contained within Mochudi East, Oodi and the Dikwididi extension.
In the southern containment zone, the latest reported case in the extended containment area was at Phitshane Molopo-Mabule on September 12.

Dr Dikoloti said a total of 167 238 cattle had been vaccinated in the extended containment zone, comprising 23, in Zone 13, covering Banyana Farms and in Zone 11.

He said the second booster vaccination campaign in Phitshane Molopo/Mabule had reached 75 per cent completion, with 16 132 of the targeted 21 544 cattle vaccinated. The campaign was scheduled to conclude on October 25.

Dr Dikoloti said government was also considering continued vaccination along the border with South Africa following subsequent outbreaks outside the original containment boundary in Zone 11, Kgatleng.

He said the long-term objective was to re-establish FMD-free zones, with vaccination maintained in high-risk border areas while inland areas would remain unvaccinated.

Dr Dikoloti said 514 kilometres of containment fencing had been completed or maintained, comprising 266 kilometres of newly constructed double fencing and 248 kilometres of existing drift and road fences.

He said preparations for the remaining section of the second fence line were ongoing, with 191 kilometres of debushing and 140 kilometres of grading completed.

Meanwhile Dr Dikoloti said Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) had also started slaughtering cattle from fenced farms and quarantines within the containment zone, processing approximately 1 000 cattle to date.

With such developments, farmers are encouraged to continue observing veterinary requirements, maintaining biosecurity and cooperating with officials on vaccination and surveillance.

The minister thanked farmers, veterinary personnel, dikgosi, local authorities and other stakeholders for supporting efforts to contain the disease.

He said the government would continue to base its decisions on veterinary evidence and the need to protect the livestock industry while restoring market access. ENDS