The FMD has been confirmed in 6b zone which is in the North East District from five clinical findings in Butale crush, says the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Following that, the veterinary department has since sealed off the veterinary gates both in Vukwi and Bisoli veterinary gates which cover the area where the disease was detected to prevent it from spreading.
Due to the outbreak of the disease, the region has been experiencing shortage of meat in local butcheries which has greatly affected meat pricing. Minister of Agriculture, Fidelis Molao has told The Monitor that due to the outbreak of FMD, there is suspension of animal movement across the country. The affected animals are cattle, sheep and goats.
“We are still investigating the extent of the spread of the disease, we will then announce measures to be taken in due course,” said Molao. Meanwhile, a Tonota farmer Steven Pillar has said that the movement restriction has cut off their main source of income. Pillar said at the moment, they are not able to sell the livestock, something which has created a stressful situation in his household.
He explained that he sells his cattle to mostly bring revenue into the household. Proprietor of Thekwane Butchery and Fresh produce, Archie Mosojane said the FMD outbreak has greatly affected his business. He said the government's decision to close all abattoirs has contributed to a lack of meat to sell. “We have since closed the butcheries last week, something which will cause a strain on our business proceeds.
As a result, it is very important to note that we will not be able to pay workers’ salaries, rentals or even our loan repayments,” said Mosojane. Mosojane is heartbroken that though the crisis is greatly affecting their businesses, the government is not directly communicating with them. He also said the government is very inconsiderate and insensitive when dealing with the matter as already they are feeling the heat of the aftermath of COVID-19 economic consequences. The owner of Tiego General Dealer, Keleditse Tiego, shared the same sentiments with Mosojane.
Tiego said the livestock movement ban around the country has greatly affected his business. He stated that currently they do not have meat in his butchery. Tiego further shared that since the ban, they do not have clear answers as to when they will be allowed to slaughter livestock again. “This is not fair as butcheries are already short of supply and mostly depend on it for business.
We do not know what to do at the moment because the government is not communicating with us,” said the concerned businessman. Tiego also suggested that the government should have banned movement of livestock from the affected area, not the whole country.
Just like Mosojane, Tiego is already worried about how he is going to pay his employees and other expenses while the butchery is not operating. Meanwhile, some farmers attributed the outbreak of FMD to Botswana and Zimbabwe cattle rustlers who cut the border fence between the two sister countries.
To limit the damage of FMD, the government of Botswana donated 473,200 doses of FMD vaccines to help Zimbabwe in the past to contain an outbreak and ensure that the disease does not spread into Botswana.
However, the gesture for all its good intents and purposes seems to not have achieved its aims due to various reasons. Amongst the reasons is the fact that the cordon fence along the border between pickets 5 and 8 is a hotspot for elephants, which usually destroy it along the Zimbabwe and Botswana borders making it easy for cattle infected with FMD from Zimbabwe to cross into Botswana.
Another problem that the farmers and the police are still grappling with is the issue of cattle rustlers from both Botswana and Zimbabwe who in some cases act in concert to destroy the border fences of the two countries, thereby making it easy for cattle from both countries to move freely between the two countries.
