FMD threatens to snuff out BMC revival
Mbongeni Mguni - Lewanika Timothy | Wednesday February 11, 2026 12:19
Addressing legislators whilst delivering the 2026–2027 Budget Speech yesterday, Gaolathe revealed that BMC had cleared P698 million in arrears and registered a 31% increase in revenue to P1.04 billion on a 'year-on-year' basis. Gaolathe, who is also the Vice President, did not provide details on the total arrears BMC had or has, or the financial reporting periods he was alluding to.
“The commission is undergoing a far‑reaching turnaround that is revitalising the beef value chain and restoring confidence among farmers,” he said.
Gaolathe added that the state-owned beef parastatal had achieved significant operational gains, including a 22% increase in throughput at the Lobatse plant. The increase in cattle deliveries comes as the BMC boosts the prices it pays to farmers for their produce and improves its invoice settlement arrangements.
The Finance minister said strategic investments such as the Meat Value Addition Plant, the revitalised tannery, and upcoming multispecies abattoirs in Gaborone and Tsabong would deepen value addition, diversify production, widen market access, and enhance farmer incomes.
“These developments will generate sustainable jobs, revitalise rural economies, and position BMC as a commercially sustainable, export‑oriented enterprise,” he said. It is therefore imperative that we resolve the FMD situation urgently, so that we do not lose the hard‑earned gains that have the potential to transform our economy.”
The outbreak of FMD, confirmed recently, has led to the strict livestock movement restrictions and the suspension of slaughter, exports, and trade around the country. The measures mean the BMC has had to suspend its exports, whilst farmers remain stuck with livestock as veterinary authorities scramble to assess the extent of the latest outbreak.
Gaolathe, who is due to address a kgotla meeting in Phitshane Molopo this week on the virus, said part of the P97 million government had allocated to fight FMD would go towards preventing further incursions.
“This response is specifically designed to avert the risk of cross-border incursion from the Republic of South Africa, whilst simultaneously preventing further transmission within Botswana,” he said.
Gaolathe said to strengthen frontline containment, 10 mini-command centres have been established in districts bordering South Africa and Zimbabwe, ensuring rapid response, surveillance, and enforcement at critical entry points. He stressed that the successful eradication of FMD and the timely prevention of its spread were vital for protecting livestock and rural incomes as well as for safeguarding Botswana’s continued access to high-value export markets such as the European Union.