Botswana announces prohibitions following suspected FMD cases

Botswana has announced various prohibitions and other measures following the recent discovery of suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among livestock in its Masunga District. If this disease is confirmed there, it will put Botswana’s fiercely protected FMD-free status in jeopardy.

By Lloyd Phillips, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

To minimise the risk of outbreaks and the spread of FMD among livestock within its borders, Botswana reportedly maintains 14 main disease control zones (DCZs) separated by lengthy cordon fences. The movement of livestock or any other materials that could potentially introduce FMD into a DCZ or spread FMD between DCZs is strictly controlled.

Botswana’s prevention and management of FMD is reportedly further enhanced by dividing the main DCZs into smaller sub-DCZs. The DCZs are ranked according to the level of risk of FMD they contain or are exposed to. For example, DCZs considered endemic for FMD or that contain free-roaming wildlife, like African buffalo, that carry and spread this disease, are ranked and managed as high-risk/endemic areas.

Until circumstances possibly dictate otherwise, Botswana reportedly has 11 main DCZs that are officially free of FMD and three main DCZs that are officially classified as endemic FMD areas.

African Farming recently reported that Botswana’s Ministry of Lands and Agriculture (MoLA) had notified its livestock owners to be on heightened alert after FMD was confirmed among livestock in Zimbabwe’s Mangwe District, which lies along Botswana’s eastern border.

South Africa, which borders Botswana to the south, is currently battling its own FMD epidemic.

Also read: FMD | Botswana heightens alert as FMD spreads in South Africa and Zimbabwe

Exports and Imports Immediately Banned

MoLA issued a statement on Wednesday to announce that it has recently been notified of suspected cases of FMD among livestock in the Tsamaya Extension Area of the Masunga District (DCZ 6B).

According to African Farming’s internet searches, this district lies directly across the Ramokgwebana River from Zimbabwe’s Mangwe District, which has confirmed outbreaks of FMD.

“While investigations are ongoing, farmers and stakeholders are advised of the following disease prevention measures:

Movement of all cloven-hoofed animals is prohibited, except within DCZ 2 (Ngamiland, Okavango) and DCZ 1 (Chobe). All issued permits are revoked with immediate effect;

Movement of fresh products (meat, fresh milk and others) from cloven-hoofed animals between DCZs is not allowed with immediate effect;

Movement of livestock feeds, trophies, skins and hooves out of sub-DCZs 6B, 3C (Maitengwe) and 3B (Nata/Gweta) and DCZ 7 (Selebi-Phikwe) is not allowed with immediate effect;

Export of cloven-hoofed animals and their fresh products is prohibited;

Importation of all cloven-hoofed animals is suspended. All issued permits are revoked with immediate effect; and

Importation of processed products (pasteurised milk, UHT milk, cooked products) is allowed.”

Botswana requires all the country’s livestock owners to mark their cattle with readily identifiable official ear tags and brands. This is part of a traceability system to help manage threats like foot-and-mouth disease. Photo: Getty Images/poco_bw

MoLA again reminds Botswana’s livestock owners to ensure that all their cattle are identifiable by their official ear tags and brands, and that livestock are prevented from straying into other districts and neighbouring countries.

“Farmers, members of the public and stakeholders are urged to remain vigilant and to report any signs of illness in livestock to the nearest department of veterinary services or Botswana police service offices.”

According to statistics that African Farming could find, red meat – primarily beef – is the nation’s second-largest export commodity after diamonds. Botswana is said to slaughter approximately 220 000 cattle annually for both domestic and international markets.

Estimates of the country’s total cattle herd range from 1.1 million to 1.7 million head.

The country’s total exports of red meat products during 2023 were reportedly valued at approximately US$23.73 million (about R373 million). Markets are said to include unlimited duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union and Norway, and South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini and Saudi Arabia.