This is part of an ongoing regional effort to contain the spread of the highly infectious livestock disease.
The delivery forms part of a larger order of 900 000 doses, with the first shipment of 500 000 doses already having reached SA late last month. The vaccines, worth around 72 million Pula ($5.45 million), were secured through a deal aimed at helping SA tackle multiple outbreaks currently affecting its livestock sector.
Andrew Madeswi, the Chief Executive Officer of BVI, said the institute is committed to working with neighbouring countries, not only through vaccine supply, but by offering technical support as well.
“We are fully committed to helping our neighbours manage and eradicate foot and mouth disease,” Madwesi said. “Our expertise and resources are available to the region, including SA, to protect the livestock sector, which remains vital to the livelihoods of many across the continent.”
Foot and mouth disease is a viral illness that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, goats, and pigs. While rarely fatal, the disease severely impacts livestock production and trade. SA’s recent outbreaks have triggered movement restrictions and forced the suspension of meat exports to several countries, including Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and China.
According to Dewald Olivia, head of SA Trade Meat Industry Services, many feedlots in southern Africa have been unable to send cattle to abattoirs due to the restrictions imposed in control zones.
“Producers are facing major losses. The outbreak has hit supply chains hard and created uncertainty in the market,” Olivia said.
SA’s reliance on regional cooperation has grown more urgent in recent months, as the country battles to contain multiple flare-ups of FMD. Botswana, which has its own high-value beef export industry to protect, particularly to the European Union, is playing a leading role in supporting containment efforts.
International relations analyst Tendani Bafana believes Botswana’s active involvement reflects both a sense of regional solidarity and a desire to safeguard its own interests.
“Botswana exports beef to Europe, and any suspicion of FMD could threaten access to that market,” Bafana explained. “Cattle don’t recognise borders, so a regional approach is the only logical response.”
Bafana added that in previous years, Botswana had to take strong measures to protect its cattle industry, including strict border controls when reports of infected livestock emerged in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Since 2017, Botswana has donated more than 470 000 doses of FMD vaccine annually to Zimbabwe, where the disease continues to affect regions such as Matabeleland and Gokwe.
--ChannelAfrica--
