Tsabong Abattoir opening pushed back amidst FMD breakout
Lewanika Timothy | Wednesday May 6, 2026 06:00
The abattoir, which had been scheduled to open in May, is now on hold as veterinary authorities move to contain the spread of the disease across affected zones. Acting Minister of Agriculture, Edwin Dikoloti, addressing Kgotla residents last week, said proceeding with the launch under current conditions would expose the country to significant trade risks.
“Opening an export-led and export-ready abattoir while the disease is active in containment zones is risky. It has potential for international blacklisting before the first carcass could even be processed,” he said.
The Tsabong facility forms part of government’s broader strategy to diversify Botswana’s beef value chain by expanding into multi-species processing and unlocking export markets beyond traditional beef channels. However, outbreaks of FMD typically trigger immediate restrictions on livestock movement and exports, particularly into high-value markets such as the European Union.
Authorities have set a three to six-month window to contain the outbreak, with vaccination campaigns intensified in key districts. In the Good Hope area, vaccination coverage has exceeded 95%, with about 20,000 cattle already inoculated in Ramatlabama and surrounding zones.
Despite this progress, Dikoloti cautioned that vaccination alone would not restore market confidence or disease-free status.
“Vaccination fundamentally changes the status of the herd, impacting cattle prices, ownership protocols, and movement within containment zones,” he said.
Botswana’s beef industry, historically anchored by export earnings and strict veterinary controls, remains highly sensitive to disease outbreaks. Any loss of disease-free status can disrupt exports, depress cattle prices, and strain rural incomes, particularly in regions heavily dependent on livestock farming.
The minister urged farmers to comply fully with movement restrictions and report suspected cases promptly, warning that non-compliance could prolong the outbreak and delay economic recovery in the sector.
The government is also considering enhanced enforcement measures, including increased patrols along veterinary cordon zones, to curb illegal livestock movements that risk spreading the virus further.
Whilst the delay is a setback for the Tsabong project, officials maintain that safeguarding the country’s export reputation remains the priority, with the facility expected to come online once the outbreak is contained and disease-free status is restored.