The Ministry of Agriculture is exploring the possibility of splitting existing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) zones to improve disease management and containment.
Dr. Odireleng Thololwane, Chief Veterinary Officer at the Department of Veterinary Services, said the current zones are too broad and include areas with varying FMD risk levels, making targeted control measures difficult to implement. “By splitting these zones, we hope to contain outbreaks more precisely and allocate resources where they are needed most,” he said.
The move comes as the regional spread of FMD intensifies, with recent outbreaks in South Africa now reaching Eswatini and Mozambique. Cross-border livestock movement continues to complicate control efforts. Authorities believe a more localized approach could help improve surveillance, vaccination, and quarantine enforcement.
Botswana has a long history of FMD control, dating back to the 1930s. The introduction of vaccines in the 1970s improved disease control significantly. Vaccination, though costly, has been a cornerstone of Botswana’s FMD strategy, supported by political and financial backing.
In 2022, Botswana culled over 10,000 cattle in the northeast following an outbreak that prompted a temporary halt of beef exports, including to the European Union. Then Assistant Minister Molebatsi Molebatsi said the decision was based on expert advice to prevent further viral circulation.
The Ministry is now working with regional partners to assess how best to implement new zoning strategies aimed at protecting livestock health and economic stability.
