Feed lotters backtrack on suing BMC, go after gov’t

Although the court is yet to hear and decide on the matter fully, the feedlot giants have amended their initial filing notice and no longer seek any action against BMC, who are the fourth respondents in the matter. The farmers now want to take on the remaining respondents in an urgent matter, which are the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Kobedi Segale, and the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, and the Attorney General (AG), Zone 12 Farmers Association, Botswana National Beef Producers Union and Feedlotters Association.

The farmers have since roped in a South African FMD expert lawyer, Advocate Reginald Willis. Willis told the court yesterday that they no longer seek any relief against the commission. The two companies were seeking a court order compelling BMC to immediately receive and slaughter all of their vaccinated feedlot cattle at full capacity, arguing that the animals have been left stranded while millions of pula hang in the balance.