07 Apr 2025

Efforts are underway to rehabilitate the buffer fences this financial year.

Principal veterinary officer, Dr Bruce Mafonko said this on Saturday when responding to comments from the chairperson of North West Integrated Farmers Association.

Dr Mafonko admitted that the fences were not in good condition and as such, they have requested funding for their maintenance.

He emphasised the importance of the buffer fences in Ngamiland region saying the fences were critical for disease control and protection of both livestock and wild animals.

Dr Mafonko also said they intend to turn zone 2e into a green zone to enable greater access of Ngamiland beef to high value markets.

Earlier on, the association chairperson Mr Simon Bogosi complained about the bad state of the fences which had resulted in free movement of both livestock and wild animals.

As a measure to control Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD),  the livestock that cross the buffer fence into wildlife area is killed and burnt. Mr Bogosi therefore said this act impoverished farmers and called on the ministry to devise other alternatives.

He said it was a misconception for one to report that FMD vaccination alone without cordon fences could be a panacea for eradication of the disease.

Mr Bojosi recommended that buffer and cordon fences should be erected, adding that there should be implementation of communal fencing where possible to reduce interaction of cattle and buffaloes.

He also complained that the protection zone at Hainaveld ranches which aimed to prevent the spread of FMD into commercial ranches was constructed without conducting environmental impact assessment (EIA) and thus had caused conflict as some farmers argued that the fence cuts off communal grazing land.

The Hainaveld farming block was originally zoned for commercial ranch development under the Tribal Grazing Land Policy of 1975 and Mr Bojosi decried non-compliance of the policy at Hainavled arguing that part of the area had been converted to game farming without formally consulting with the community accordance with the EIA act.

However, he appreciated the government intention to declare Zone 2e into a green zone.

He cited areas such as Hainaveld ranches, Nxauxau and Xaxa saying the areas had not been exposed to the disease for years.

Meanwhile, Dr Mafonko dismissed reports that cattle from North East Zone 6b where FMD outbreak occurred in 2023 were kept at Makalamabedi quarantine while awaiting slaughter at Maun Botswana Meat Commission plant.

He explained that the animals were transported straight to the slaughter facility, adding that an arrangement was made to ensure the exercise does not disadvantage Ngamiland farmers to use the quarantine and the abattoir as well. ENDS