As a newly installed paramount chief of the Batawana, Kgosi Tawana Moremi had to deal with the debilitating outbreak of CBPP or cattle lung disease in Ngamiland in 1996. Government's proposed solution was to slaughter all cattle in the region, and that meant killingover 300, 000 herd. Such a drastic measure was to be the first to befall the region that is absolutely dependent on livestock for livelihood. As a young tribal leader Tawana had to strike the balance between his people's emotions and the government's search for a lasting solution. Those were the dark days not only for Tawana but also for the people of Ngamiland. His legal training must have come handy then.
The killing exercise was finally carried out with devastating effects to the inhabitants. A few years down the line a painstaking restocking exercise was undertaken, though with a paltry replacement of about 60,000 herds. The determination of the Ngamiland people saw them building up that herd within a decade, which now even surpasses the pre-CBPP figures. Now Tawana, as a political novice in the race for Maun West says he draws encouragement from that determination.
