Following a series of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks in some parts of the country in that severely disrupted the beef industry, government has activated a masterplan for full recovery, anchored on resilience, modern infrastructure, and international partnerships.
The outbreaks reported across Zone 6b (North East), Zone 3c- Maitengwe (North East), Zone 11 (Goodhope/Borolong, Southern, Gamalete), and Zone 13 (Kgalagadi) led to the suspension of beef exports to the European Union, alongside strict regional movement controls and border bans by neighbors like Namibia.
Rural households and local commerce have also been fully disrupted as temporary closures of village butcheries and regional market stalls have dampened local cash flow.
Updating parliament on the situation this week, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti reported that the emergency mass vaccination programme has successfully suppressed the outbreaks in Zones 3c-Maitengwe and 6b in the North East District.
Both outbreak events have now been formally closed with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
“Having gathered robust epidemiological evidence, we are preparing a comprehensive dossier for WOAH to grant these zones official FMD Free-With-Vaccination status, which is a critical milestone that will reopen global corridors for our livestock and animal products.”
However, in the southern parts of the country, specifically Zones 11 and 13, active FMD transmission remains localised, primarily affecting specific areas along the Botswana-South Africa border.
But Dikoloti assured that Government remains seized with the situation and continues to intensify surveillance, vaccination and other disease-control interventions in the affected areas.
To fast-track trade restoration, the minister revealed that they are erecting a formidable Containment Zone (CZ) that decisively isolates affected pockets while safeguarding the disease-free status of the rest of the nation.
“This approximately 400-kilometer northern boundary integrates reinforced existing barriers with newly constructed fences over virgin terrain. I am pleased to inform this House that this great project will be fully completed by the end of August 2026.”
Upon completion of the boundary fence and certification of clear population separation by the Director of Veterinary Services (DVS), Dikoloti revealed that they will then formally inform WOAH for international recognition of the Containment Zone.
“Once approved, this will immediately unlock trade for all disease- free zones outside the contained area, unleashing Botswana beef back into the global market.”
Meanwhile, interventions under the activated masterplan for full recovery includes robust border patrol, fence construction, and surveillance, smart realignment of large veterinary control zones and high-precision mapping.
Further, Government has through the Botswana-RSA Binational Commission (BNC), we have launched a joint biosecurity plan to secure shared borders.
It is also modernising our laboratory networks, advancing small-stock health integration, and refining strategic control mechanisms through collaboration with German experts via the AU-Germany Agricultural Policy Dialogue.
“We are doubling down on our world-class BAITS system and residue monitoring labs to satisfy the most stringent global food safety standards, maintaining our competitive edge in premium markets.”
In conclusion, Dikoloti added that Government is also actively establishing a unified national beef brand that aims to capture maximum value across top-tier international markets.
“As you may all know, Botswana’s traditional, natural, and grass-fed cattle-raising practices align perfectly with global demand for organic, hormone-free meat.”
