Botswana Imposes Immediate Ban on Cloven-Hoofed Imports After FMD Reports in Mangwe

Botswana imposes an immediate ban on cloven-hoofed animal imports from Zimbabwe after suspected foot-and-mouth disease cases in Mangwe district (image source)

Botswana has imposed an immediate ban on the importation of cloven-hoofed animals and related products from Zimbabwe following reports of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Mangwe district. Authorities have also ordered strict livestock movement controls in affected zones and urged border communities to strengthen surveillance and cordon measures.

Botswana’s Acting Director of Veterinary Services, Kobedi Segale, said the prohibition follows suspected FMD cases in Mangwe, a district that borders Botswana’s Tutume, North-East and Bobirwa districts. Movement restrictions have been enforced in zones 3b, 3c (Maitengwe), 6b and 7, with livestock from these areas barred from export or slaughter for export, except for direct slaughter under strict veterinary controls.

Farmers and traders operating along the Zimbabwe–Botswana frontier have been instructed to halt cross-border movement and trade of cattle, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed animals from the affected zones. Authorities warned that illegal movement of livestock, raw meat or unprocessed milk would attract enforcement action.

Communities in border areas have been called upon to assist with disease control by maintaining cordon fences, kraaling animals at night, and ensuring livestock are properly branded and tagged to support traceability. Farmers have also been urged to immediately report clinical signs such as lameness, excessive salivation, and lesions on the mouth or hooves.

(image source)

Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious among cloven-hoofed animals and poses a serious threat to livestock productivity, rural livelihoods and regional trade. While mortality rates are often low, outbreaks typically result in prolonged trade bans, movement restrictions and costly control measures, including vaccination campaigns and extended surveillance.

Veterinary authorities have advised farmers to tighten kraaling practices, restrict communal grazing, reinforce border fences and avoid moving animals to markets or dip tanks until affected zones are declared clear. Officials stressed that early reporting, traceability and cooperation between farmers, communities and veterinary services are critical to containing the outbreak.

The ban highlights the vulnerability of cross-border livestock trade to animal health shocks, with precautionary measures often remaining in place until surveillance confirms that outbreaks have been fully contained. Producers and traders have been advised to prepare for short-term market disruptions and to seek guidance from veterinary authorities on movement permits, vaccination policy and possible compensation mechanisms.