The North West District Acting Agricultural Coordinator, Eric Mesho, has stated that financial constraints severely hinder the maintenance of the buffalo fence in Ngamiland. The structure is currently dilapidated, allowing the free movement of cattle between villages and controlled areas.
Herds of cattle were recently spotted grazing along the buffalo fence inside the NG32 area, raising questions about whether enough is being done to control livestock and wildlife movement to curb Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
In an interview, Mesho acknowledged that authorities are aware of the free movement of cattle across the buffalo fence, adding that limited resources have affected the overall maintenance of the infrastructure.
According to Mesho, no patrols are currently being conducted along the buffalo fence to prevent cattle from entering the area. He admitted that roaming elephants have damaged the fence, which has left it unmaintained since last year due to a lack of funds. Mesho noted that they are currently vaccinating cattle in the area to strengthen FMD prevention.
He explained that priority maintenance has instead been given to cordon fences in critical areas such as Ghanzi, Central, and the Southern parts of Botswana. These regions are prioritised to prevent the spread of FMD because they are considered FMD-free zones or surveillance and protection zones.
Mesho urged farmers in the affected areas to herd their livestock to prevent cattle loss, control disease outbreaks, and mitigate conflicts with wildlife.
Bojanala Ward Councillor, Monopane Namanga, expressed deep concern over the deteriorated state of the buffalo fence in his area, calling on the government to prioritize its maintenance to halt the free movement of cattle.
He added that due to the damaged infrastructure, wild animals trespass onto communal farmlands, causing extensive property damage, destroying crops, and threatening human safety. Namanga stated that the migration of cattle past the buffalo fence not only risks spreading FMD but also degrades the pristine wilderness experience.
According to Namanga, local farmers previously volunteered to help the government maintain the fence, but elephants subsequently destroyed it again.
Namanga also highlighted the importance of regular patrols along the buffalo fence, noting that teams were previously deployed to assess fence damage and control the movement of cattle and wild animals. He urged the government to consider engaging tourism companies operating in the NG32 concession to find ways of raising funds for fence maintenance.
Meanwhile, when answering a parliamentary question in July last year on behalf of the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Minister of Communications and Innovation David Tshere stated that P17.04 million had been disbursed over the past five financial years to maintain the buffalo fence and other fences within Ngamiland. This funding covered fencing materials, travel costs, and labour to maintain the 350 km cordon fence, which comprises 280 km of double fence and 70 km of single fence.
Tshere had indicated that the buffalo fence is one of the most prioritised cordon fences because of its strategic importance. It serves not only to protect livestock in Ngamiland from FMD but also acts as the first line of defence for the country’s FMD-free zone, spanning from Ghanzi to the Southern Districts.
Tshere explained that the required budget to optimally maintain the buffalo fence alone exceeds P12.6 million per year, or P63 million over five years. He said the annual development and recurrent budget for all cordon fences under the Department of Veterinary Services is P200 million, with approximately 15 percent (P30 million) allocated to the buffalo fence.
He stated that the government was already engaging communities along the cordon fence for maintenance, though this was admittedly limited because most villages are located too far away from the structure.
“However, in 2024 the Shorobe community was engaged to maintain a section of the fence from Gomoti to Mawana gate. Regrettably, the use of chilli pepper and electrification has not been successful due to limited capacity to sustain these initiatives. My Ministry will continue to explore engagement of communities and use of technology to improve maintenance of the fence,” Tshere said at the time.
