16 Mar 2025

Requests by Bobirwa anti-crime regiments (mephato), amongst them the suggested P8 000 and P6 000 wages for members of mephato, are deemed genuine and worthy of consideration since their efforts border on preventing threats to food security.
Speaking in an interview with BOPA post tour of Botswana borderline with Zimbabwe, Thursday, where he sought to acquaint himself with some issues in the area, chiefly the cordon fence and cross-border livestock rustling, Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said in addition to the requested fees, which he could not pronounce on, were other issues as the welfare of the members of mephato.
Following a tour that was preceded by a special meeting on mophato and cross-border crimes, Dr Dikoloti said the role played by mephato as physical barriers along the borderline where the cordon fence had been stolen and or vandalised was one of great importance.
“It is not about a figure, and like I said, this is a concept that I’d like us to have as a public private community partnership, build a concept around it and you can even have it across the country,” said Dr Dikoloti, about mephato in fighting cross-border livestock theft while simultaneously tending to the cordon fence that currently acts as a borderline between Botswana and Zimbabwe.
“There is a dire need for us to look at this as a wholesome and make sure that there is sustainability in its whole value chain,” he said adding that there was a lot of interest to have mephato engaged in fighting crime and tending to the cordon fence, to ensure that the physical disease control barriers were well functional at all times.
The minister said there were different communities yearning to benchmark on mephato operations in Bobirwa with a view of fighting livestock theft inter alia in their areas, especially those that lie along the borders.
“I feel that cordon fences are a big priority as a physical barrier in preventing trans-boundary diseases, it helps better your surveillance,” he said.
The minister said it was important to have people develop interest in the cordon fences and eventually care for them. This can be achieved when the people know the value of this fence to their livelihoods, he said.
He wished that the level of volunteerism displayed by the members of mephato could be generational despite the young ones seemingly having lost interest upon witnessing the pains of their parents in losing their livestock across the borders.
“So, it is a big opportunity for us to revive and change perceptions around it,” he said about youth losing interest in farming.
At the meeting prior to the tour, Kgosi Mooketsi Gabana, responsible for mephato in Bobirwa, appealed to the government to consider paying mephato site foreman P8 000 and a general member, P6 000 fees.
He said with these fees, mephato members would not seek allowances and pecks associated with public servants such as overtime allowance and pension.
In order to fund these wages, Kgosi Gabana proposed that government should consider increasing some fees for levies and services within the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture.
Mephato also requested for a dignified uniform, machinery and tools that would assist them in discharging their duties along the borders.
Bobirwa region shares a border with Zimbabwe on the north and South Africa on the east.
The cross-border theft gained traction in the early ’80s until it became a fully-fledged scourge in recent years, according to the farmers in the region.
This led to the dikgosi convening a meeting of government officials and security personnel to forge a plan to address the problem. ENDS