adminFOLLOWING the reported incursion of a buffalo at Moreane Crush in Botswana’s Lotlhakane East, near Kanye, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has banned the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products in, out and within Zone 11 to avert a possible outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Authorities also suspended the slaughter of the cloven-hoofed animals, as another precaution. These measures come with negative impact on the socio-economic status of the people and day to day lives raising fears of a possible meat crisis.
This could also affect personal slaughter for social gatherings such as weddings, funerals and family re-unions. The ban would affect many households if it prolongs. Individuals could start competing for meat with those buying in larger quantities for feeding attendants at social gatherings.
The ban could also mean the temporary closure of the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) abattoir in Lobatse, resulting in butcheries not being able to sell meat because they would be out of stock until the restrictions are relaxed, Mmegi reported last Friday.
Leon Grobbler of the Butcher Shop, who manages nine butcheries around Gaborone, said that by the end of the weekend they could start experiencing stock shortage in some of their butcheries if the problem was not solved quickly.
He said that this would be bad for his business if it prolongs. He, however, pointed out that the misfortune was a national security matter, as such DVS had to impose restrictions to prevent possible outbreak.
“We usually slaughter on daily basis to stock butcheries,” he said. “We stocked our butcheries at the beginning of the week and expect the meat to last up to the weekend. We could start experiencing problems at the end of the weekend because we can’t do stock transfer, there’ll be no meat.”
Grobbler explained that the Butcher Shop was supplied by two feedlots: one in Kgalagadi and the other in Gaborone.
A factory supervisor at Kings Meat Products, Edward
Male, said they have tried to stock enough meat at their storages to last them for a while. He lamented that the restrictions may put more strain on their business, which has been struggling.
“Once we heard about the imposed movement restriction of meat products we tried to stock more at our storages,” he said. “We hope what we have is enough to last us a while.”
Male said the main supplier of Kings Meat Products was the Lobatse BMC abattoir. He expressed hope that business would peak during this time.
The director of DVS Letlhogile Modisa said in an interview that shortage of meat was a possibility because Botswana was dealing with a serious problem but focus should be on averting an outbreak or controlling any.
Modisa said importing meat was also banned until investigations are complete and the results are negative. He reminded Batswana that these stringent measures had applied to northern Botswana in the past.
“I don’t know why people are bringing up small issues while they know the seriousness of the situation we’re faced with,” he said. “People should do what they’re told and not transport cloven-hoofed animals and their products.”
With Modisa saying the restrictions could only be relaxed on the basis of the outcome of the tests and investigations, Kweneng, Kgatleng, Southern and South East districts could be faced with a meat crisis. Butchery owners would also incur losses, as they have to pay rent at the end of the month while they would not have made any returns. – mmegionline.
Online Reporter