Results that were carried at the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation laboratories relating to an outbreak of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) reported in some parts of north eastern Botswana in August 2022 have traced the disease to be originating from Zimbabwe.
Giving an update to Parliament this week, minister responsible for Agriculture, Fidelis Molao said that the BVI, FAO tests showed that the FMD was caused by serotype SAT2.
“Molecular studies (genotyping) carried out at the FAO world reference Laboratory in the UK indicated that the virus was closely related to the viruses identified in neighbouring Zimbabwe,” said Molao.
Following the FMD outbreak in August 2022, the government then announced that more than 10,000 cattle will be targeted for culling in a bid to stop the spread of the disease.
“We took the decision after consultation with experts. We don’t want any traces of the virus to remain or to have any further viral circulation,” said junior Minister at Agriculture Molebatsi Molebatsi in September 2022.
At the time, the Zimbabwean media also reported that the neighbouring country’s Department of Veterinary Services was battling to contain the epidemic due to drugs shortages.
But now Molao told Parliament this week that Botswana and Zimbabwe have since signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate on matters of Agriculture and Food Security which includes joint control of animal diseases and combating of livestock rustling.
The minister said Botswana will enforce the law to intensify identification of animals, branding of animals with zonal brands, registration of kraals and cattle posts in order to improve animal traceability and to control animal diseases.
Another critical step to control and contain the disease was through vaccinating all the cattle in the affected area adding that the ministry also embarked on a rehabilitation of the Botswana / Zimbabwe border cordon fence from Magwape to Dikgatlhong. The cordon fences separating zone 6b from the adjoining zone 3c, 6a and 7 were also rehabilitated. Molao said that the ministry has embarked on an initiative to strengthen the border fence by installing high tensile strength cable. He stated that so far the cable has been installed in the Mabolwe – Lenyetse, Mabolwe – Tuli and Gwanyo – Makhurana sections of the fence.
“The Ministry carried out sensitisation through kgotla meetings in which communities also expressed their concerns, views and advice to the Ministry. The government opted for the strategy of eradicating the outbreak by establishing a containment zone (CZ) and depopulating all cattle in the CZ,” said Molao.
A total of 4670 cattle out of an estimated 10000 have so far been collected from 492 farmers in the following villages Jackalas 2, Mabudzane, Mowana, Tsamaya and Siviya. 3458 of these cattle have been slaughtered at Maun BMC.
