The Department of Veterinary Services is headed for another clash with Ngamiland farmers following revelations that it is killing and burning all cattle that strayed into the Okavango swamps in an apparent bid to reduce the chances of spreading Foot and Mouth Disease.
“Yes, it is true that┬ácattle that are in the swamps are being killed┬áeven as we talk”, confirmed Chairman of┬áNgamiland┬áIntegrated┬áFarmers Association┬áSimon┬áBojosi.
The killings he said started sometimes last month and that he has heard that the target is to kill around 1,000 cattle that are believed to have strayed into the swamps. Bojosi said that he thinks the meat of such cattle is burnt and buried afterwards.
“We are planning to meet┬áthe┬áDepartment of Veterinary Services┬á in a kgotla meeting where we hope┬á we will be┬á given the details of the operation including the┬á issue of whether there will be compensations paid to the affected farmers,” he said.
Bojosi said that it was once again a sad day for Ngamiland farmers whose cattle are being shot as if there are wild animals adding that he wishes a permanent solution was found for the problem of cattle straying into the swamps. He also accused the Department of Veterinary Services for failing to make sure that they maintain the fences as much as possible.
Principal Public Relations Officer in the MOA Issac Pheko confirmed that cattle around the swamps are being killed. This he said was being done  as part  of foot and mouth  disease control  protocols  that are recognized  and are recommended  by  body of Animal Health.
On the numbers of cattle that have so far been killed , Pheko said that  the number currently stands at 34 and denied any knowledge of the target of cattle to be killed standing at  1000.
“We┬ásimply do not┬áknow anything about that number. Where did you get it?” he asked. The cattle he explained were killed in and around┬áMatsebe, Habu┬áand Boro and that┬áfarmers┬áwhose cattle were killed will get P400 compensation.
