Parliament has turned up the heat on government to overhaul Botswana’s veterinary disease control framework, calling for an urgent review and re-demarcation of livestock zones as pressure mounts from recurring outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
The motion, tabled by Boteti West legislator Sam Digwa, targets sprawling zones such as 11 and 3B, arguing that their size undermines effective disease management. Lawmakers say the current structure makes it difficult to isolate outbreaks, deploy vaccines efficiently and enforce quarantine measures with precision. The motion also calls for urgent rehabilitation of veterinary cordon fences.
The push comes as government battles a widening outbreak first detected in Goodhope District. Acting Minister Edwin Dikoloti recently told a kgotla meeting that the disease has spread beyond initial containment areas, with confirmed cases reported at multiple crushes and a commercial feedlot. Authorities have since declared new infected zones under emergency regulations.
Officials concede the situation is fluid. Veterinary authorities have long argued that existing zones combine areas with varying risk levels, complicating surveillance and response efforts. The renewed outbreak has exposed these weaknesses, with cross-border transmission and internal movement controls proving difficult to manage.
Regionally, pressure is intensifying. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has recorded a surge in cases, pushing vaccine demand beyond supply. Botswana’s own production capacity is under strain, even as authorities race to restore disease-free status by 2028.
For farmers, the fallout is immediate. Movement restrictions are choking cattle sales and exports, while compliance costs rise. With beef exports tied to strict health standards, delays in reforming the zoning system risk deepening losses in one of Botswana’s most important agricultural sectors.