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Sukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
GOVERNMENT is holding a campaign to conscientise villagers from Matabeleland South and North Provinces on the Botswana shoot to kill policy which is expected to come into effect in the next three months.
Authorities from the neighbouring country will as from June 1 shoot to kill all cattle that stray into their territory.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for Livestock Paddy Zhanda on Thursday told farmers in Mangwe that Government could not stop their Botswana counterparts from implementing this policy but could only educate locals on its effects.
He advised farmers along the border line to closely monitor their cattle to stop them from straying into the neighbouring country.
“I am here because I have been sent by Government to explain to you that as from 1 June if your cattle stray into Botswana they will be shot dead and burnt and you will not get compensation.
The reason why our Botswana counterparts have resorted to this is because the straying of our cattle is affecting their business of exporting of beef as we have incidents of Foot and Mouth disease as a nation,” he said.
Deputy Minister Zhanda said the country has about 90 000 cattle situated along the Botswana- Zimbabwe border and it would be worrisome if the bulk of these cattle went down because of this policy.
He said the Botswana officials had erected a fence to stop the cattle from straying into their territory but smugglers and other criminals were constantly vandalising the fence thereby creating an opportunity for animals to wander off.
The Deputy Minister, who was addressing villagers from Nxele area raised a concern over scores of Zimbabweans who were vandalising the fence in order to gain access into Botswana where they went on to commit crimes.
“We do not have as much cases of Botswana cattle straying into our territory as that of our cattle straying into their territory.
“As I was inspecting what is supposed to be the perimeter fence I was shocked by the number of holes I saw. We have 502 Zimbabweans who are currently being held in Botswana prisons and yet we only have four Botswana nationals who are being held in our cells.
There is a need for us to be disciplined as a nation and respect our neighbour’s laws as we also expect them to observe ours,” he said.
He said Government would not tolerate cases of cattle being burnt as that meant that the country’s wealth was depreciating. He urged villagers to realise the importance of cattle to their livelihoods.
He urged villagers who own cattle to translate their animals into income generating projects.
He advised various Government departments within his ministry to educate villagers and offer their expertise in this regard in order to maximise production.
The Director in the Department of Veterinary Services Dr Josphat Nyika said they were holding an awareness campaign in all areas that were along the Botswana-Zimbabwe Border.
He said the programme sought to educate people on the policy which would be implemented by the neighbouring country to ensure that people were prepared and well informed.
He said the campaign has been done in Beitbridge, Gwanda, Matobo, Mangwe and Bulilima Districts.
He said the campaign would also be held in some parts of Matabeleland North Province.
Online Reporter