Buffer in buffalo, not our cattle say chiefs

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Wednesday June 23, 2010 00:00

Government says the buffer zone will be used to prevent the spread of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which has largely affected the region.  Kgosi Ebineng Potsoeng of the Ngami Region said he is disappointed by government's sudden decision to construct the zone. He said they were never consulted and when they tried enquiring they were simply told that the decision to erect the zone has been made. Potsoeng said up to now, he doesn't know where the fence is going to start or end.  He said that the zone could pose a serious threat to the region as farmers are being relocated from the area already. Potsoeng said that most of the residents are people who rear cattle and supply the region with meat. He suggested that the zone be built in areas around the region that have a lot of buffaloes. 'The buffaloes are the ones bringing diseases to our cattle and they should be controlled from mixing with our livestock,' he said.

Kgosi Kegaisamang Ramokwena of the Maun Region suggested that since government has already made its decision, it should allocate the farmers with cattle friendly environments. He said that most regions in Ngami are not good for cattle rearing although they look lush to the eye. Ramokwena said since the farmers in the region have already sacrificed their farms for the development, they should be shown the areas they are going to relocate to beforehand. This will help the farmers assess the land themselves and decide on whether they think the area is good or not, he said.  Specially elected Ntlo ya Dikgosi member, Kgosi Sinvula said the government seems to have an ulterior motive behind the construction of the zone. He wondered how an animal disease control area can be used to conserve wild animals. Apparently the government will turn the area into a game reserve to lure tourists. The dikgosi however suggested that developments being made in the area should benefit the community at large and not just individuals.

The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Lesego Motsumi denied that the zone would be used to keep wild animals as assumed. She reiterated that the objective of the zone is to prevent the spread of FMD. 'How then can we keep animals whilst we are preventing the spread of animal diseases from one region to another,' she asked rhetorically. Motsumi said the decision was taken by government to protect the nation. She acknowledged that it was wrong not to consult the chiefs and elders but blamed the village representatives who were informed, for not relaying the message. Motsumi said she would also present the issue of land assessment to the parliament. She said the areas have to be assessed in order to ensure there is water and vegetation that can be consumed by livestock.