Illegal immigrants fuel spread of animal and crop diseases
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday January 12, 2016 11:43
The director of crop production, Galeitsiwe Ramokapane told Mmegi on the sidelines of a workshop on the management of fruit fly in Botswana at Tati River Lodge recently, that the influx of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe especially is a course for concern.
This situation in the North East District (NED) has worsened with the numbers of illegal immigrants linked with the rising cross border crime.
Despite regular deportation of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, many still find their way back into the country through ungazetted points, and these are the people Ramokapane says break the disease control regime.
Ramokapane said the animal and crop diseases have a huge impact on Botswana’s agricultural sector and threaten the country’s food security.
“We have a problem of continuous outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in the North of Botswana suspected to be fuelled by illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe.
To avoid this to happen with fruit fly disease, there is a need for us as a country to tighten our security along the border areas to stop unlawful entrance of people here,” said Ramokapane.
He said some illegal immigrants cross into the country in possession of fruits and vegetables that have not been examined of possible diseases like fruit fly and sell them to Batswana hence spreading the disease into the country.
He said every visitor should have their goods inspected to avoid possible disease transfer into the country.
“MoA has officers working at the country’s borders to inspect every food that comes into the country and prohibits any entry of food suspected of any disease, but the problem is that some illegal immigrants cross into Botswana with such food,” said Ramokapane explaining that the situation makes it difficult for them to control and fight certain diseases.
Ramokapane said after the outbreak of fruit fly in Botswana in view of the proximity of the areas threatened with the pest, an agreement was made by Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe (BONAZAZI) to jointly make project memoranda to control the pest.
He is hopeful that the association will help stop the spread of the fly among these countries.
“We are hopeful that BONAZAZI association will help control or eliminate the spread of animal and crop diseases amongst the countries because they have also disclosed to be equally concerned about the spread of the diseases across borders,” said Ramokapane.
The plant protection officer at Chobe district Akosembe Mandevu told the workshop that illegal immigrants from Zambia crossing into Botswana are also a source of concern as they contribute to the spread of crop and animal diseases.