The World Organisation for Animal Health has given Botswana a 24 month deadline to eliminate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Edwin Dikoloti warned at a Kgotla (traditional council/ community assembly) gathering in Kanye and the consequences of failure are severe. If the country does not achieve elimination within two years, the affected zone will be declared a red zone, with far-reaching implications for Botswana’s beef export credentials and the livelihoods of farming communities across the region.
Dikoloti outlined how the outbreak began, confirmed the areas currently affected and announced plans to subdivide Zone 11 for tighter disease control. He set a 3-6 month target to contain the spread and return to green zone status, framing the challenge as one that demands national unity above all else. Cross-border vaccination will begin in Zimbabwe next week, a proactive measure designed to buffer Botswana’s farming communities given the shared border and proximity of Zimbabwean livestock to local farming areas, with domestic rollout continuing in parallel.
Kgosi (Traditional Chief) Kwelagobe Mookodi reinforced the government’s message with a direct appeal to farmers to guard their livestock and comply fully with Veterinary Services regulations, drawing on scripture to underscore the importance of obedience. Residents responded with resolve, with one farmer making clear that livestock represents the lifeblood of Batswana, a statement that captures precisely what is at stake.
FMD Coordinator Odireleng Thololwane provided operational detail on the containment strategy. Compensation is set at P700 per animal culled due to infection. Trace-back and trace-forward investigations are under way, with blood, saliva and manure samples collected from affected sites to map transmission. The virus carries a 14 day incubation period before symptoms appear, adding to the surveillance challenge.
Movement of unprocessed livestock products such as raw meat, milk and blood is prohibited, with violations carrying a P5,000 fine. Vaccination and certification for farmers to prove disease-free status are under way in the district. Authorities are also tracking cattle semen movements to block an additional transmission route and checkpoints have been established in affected areas to enforce livestock movement restrictions. The short-term focus is the Containment Zone and the longer-term goal is the rezoning of Zone 11 entirely.
