Agric Minister confirms Zim FMD outbreak
Friday, July 02, 2010
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.
March 28 will go down as a day that Batswana will never forget because of the accident that occurred near Mmamatlakala in Limpopo, South Africa. The tragedy affected not only the grieving families but the nation at large. Batswana throughout the process stood behind the grieving families and the governments of Botswana and South Africa need much more than a pat on the back.Last Saturday was a day when family members said their last goodbyes to...