Agric Minister confirms Zim FMD outbreak

Addressing councillors here yesterday the minister said FMD outbreaks in southern Zimbabwe have a history of spilling over into Botswana citing the 2001 outbreak in Plumtree that spilled to Botswana in February 2002 resulting in the Matsiloje outbreak. The 2003 and 2006 outbreaks in Matopi and Bobirwa were also spillovers from Zimbabwe.

The minister indicated that Botswana remains vulnerable to FMD spread due to its proximity of the current outbreak, frequent border fence breeches, cross border crimes particularly livestock rustling as well as uncontrolled movement of cattle along the border in both countries due to communal livestock production system.