11 Mar 2014

Assistant Minister of Agricultiure, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi says it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of re-introduction of infection into restocked areas of zone sixand or other areas.

Answering a question in Parliament on March 10, Mr Molebatsi said it was due to the trans-boundary nature of the disease but also the high rate of illegal cross border movement of both people and livestock. “The presence of elephants in the area, which damage cordon fences does not help the situation either,” he said.

Mr Molebatsi further said to manage the risk of reintroduction of the infection some measures were put in place such as the establishment of zone in Zone 6, in which surveillance for the disease was intensified to ensure early detection of the infection to facilitate quick response before disease has spread.

He also said the maintenance and patrols of border cordon fence had been intensified as well as joint operations with Zimbabwe security authorities to reduce border crime.

Another measure, he said, was joint operations with Zimbabwe Veterinary authorities to control disease, that is joint vaccinations of cattle along the common border and cooperation in disease surveillance.

Mr Molebatsi was answering a question from the Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central Mr Dumelang Saleshando who asked the minister to state measures in place to ensure that there was no reinfection of Foot and Mouth Disease within the recently restocked areas of North East District.

He also wanted to know the infection on account of developments on the Zimbabwe side of the border was curbed. ENDS