Lum ase - Ministry of Agriculture

Article: Theresa MokgwathiPhotos: Tshepiso KhethiweMolebatsiBobirwa on high alert ofFoot and Mouth DiseaseYet another outbreak of Footand Mouth Disease (FMD) inn e i g h b o u r i n g Z i m b a b w eis making Babirwa nervous. Thecommunity is right to be nervous, asit faced the same predicament aboutfive years ago-when the disease spreadinto the country.Just when they thought things werereturning to normal, another outbreakof the disease was reported in Gwanda,Zimbabwe about 30 kilometres fromthe border with Botswana.The faces of Babirwa showdisappointment as they fear for theirlivestock. They know that if the diseasespread into their area it will be declareda red zone.“I am here today to plead with you tojoin forces with the government againto help prevent the spread of FMD intothe country,” said Oreeditse Molebatsi,Assistant Minister of Agriculture.As a precautionary measure,residents should inter alia; ceasefrom importing meat fromZimbabwe and stopemploying illegalimmigrants.Lasttime when Babirwa were told ofthe similar disease out break nearPlumtree, residents cooperated wellwith the government.Botswana also recognised thegood working relationship betweenB o t s w a n a a n d Z i m b a b w e a nveterinarians whenever there is anoutbreak.Molebatsi commended Zimbabwefor always alerting Botswana on timewhen there is an outbreak of FMDin that country. He said that helpsBotswana to take precautions wellin time.For his part, Kgosi MerwaMalema of Bobonong commendedthe government for sensitizing themabout the outbreak in Zimbabwe.“Thank you for coming to let us knowwell in time so that we can prepare forthis situation.”He asked for an electric fence to beerected along the Shashe River to actas a border between Botswana andZimbabwe. The fence, he said will alsoprevent stocktheft and the spread ofFMD from Zimbabwe.The Minister was also givenan update on the development ofBobonong by Bathoeng Malemeyane,chairperson of the Village DevelopmentCommittee. Malemenyane said thatone of the committee’s commitmentsis to produce enough food for thecountry. He noted that the initiative isinfluenced by the fact that Bobononghas enough under ground water.High alert to ensure FMD does not spreadinto Botswana. file photoMarch 2011 10