Author: Daily News

Government has deployed drones to carryout Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) surveillance along the 182 kilometre FMD double cordon fence in Good Hope District. The system, which started operations at Phihetshwane in Good Hope on Tuesday, is automated to collect real time data used by veterinary services to monitor the situation.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Phitshane Molopo addressed by the Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe, the acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said government would also continue to strengthen prevention and control measures in the fight against FMD outbreak through construction and maintenance of cordon fences. He encouraged residents to refrain from vandalising the fences adding that biosecurity measures which included kraaling were essential for controlling the spreading of FMD and protecting livestock.

For his part, Mr Gaolathe said it was critical for everyone to unite in the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease, particularly during this period of strict budgetary limitations.

He said Botswana’s import cover which used to comfortably address emergency situations including FMD crisis in the past had seen a decline over the years.

 In the past, the country’s foreign reserves were sufficient to cushion it against external shocks for up to one and half years, but they have since declined, largely due to trade deficit driven by the underperformance of the diamond sector, he explained.

 Mr Gaolathe who is also Minister of Finance said Botswana was endowed with the necessary human resource capital, and mineral resources to be able to resuscitate the economy and bring it back to its hay days.

He said government was working under tight fiscal constraints as such it was critical for the people to stand and be self-reliant, be resilient in the phase of adversity. Mr Gaolathe said Government could not do it alone highlighting that it was the responsibility of every citizen, civil society, local communities, business community, farmers, youth, and experts to join in.

It is against this backdrop that the vice president said collaborative efforts was essential for addressing the current economic challenges, as well as preventing the outbreak of FMD in green zones.

Adopting this approach, he noted would reshape governance structures to be more networked and adaptive, allowing for more community participation in shaping outcomes.

He emphasised that to achieve high impact results, the spirit of volunteerism was critical and thus appreciated members of the community who had volunteered to fight FMD outbreak. Additionally, he said it was critical for the community to unite with government in the fight against outbreak of FMD to protect the beef industry, cautioning that FMD outbreak risked Botswana’s reputation as a reliable beef exporter, especially to premium international markets.

He said should there be any FMD outbreak in green zones Botswana stood to lose grip of the lucrative market share, adding that the beef sector contributed significantly to Botswana’s Gross Domestic Product.

Mr Gaolathe emphasised that it was therefore pertinent for Botswana to protect its reputation by ensuring transparency in the fight against FMD to protect its market .He encouraged the Phitshane Molopo community and the periphery to do the same.

The vice president said government was committed to the fight against FMD and had budgeted P97 million for the course.

Kgosi Odirile Sekwenyane of Phitshane Molopo appreciated extensive consultations by government with members of the community and farmers regarding the outbreak of FMD in neighbouring South Africa. He said farmers had generally heeded the call to look after their cattle and employed biosecurity measures by kraaling their cattle at night as well as driving their livestock to designated livestock watering points.

Additionally, Kgosi Sekwenyane said livestock farmers had concerted their efforts and were working with other stakeholders including the veterinary officers and law enforcement to patrol the fence to fight FMD. Currently, he said the youth have volunteered to maintain the FMD double cordon fence, adding that they were looking forward to the establishment of eco rangers programme.

A total of 6 965 farmers in the Kanye district have registered for assistance through the Lemang Dijo programme for the 2025/26 ploughing season, according to Kanye District Agronomist Ms Kealeboga Tonoko.

The Lemang Dijo initiative, a government-backed input subsidy programme aimed at boosting household food security and supporting micro-scale farmers, provides eligible participants with fully subsidised inputs such as tillage services (ploughing), seeds, and other essentials for up to one hectare of land.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA recently, Ms Tonoko said of the registered farmers, 3 632 were men and 3,333 were women, reflecting a near-balanced gender participation.

Ms Tonoko reported that the programme successfully supported 3 596 farmers with grants, benefiting 1 685 men and 1 911 women. These grants primarily covered ploughing services, seeds and fertilizer’ provisions.

While fertilisers were not distributed directly through the Crop Management System (CMS)- the digital platform used for programme registration and administration, she said the district requested 5 810 units but received only 3 707. All received fertilisers were fully allocated to farmers, reaching 925 beneficiaries: 429 men and 490 women.

The district’s cropping season faced significant weather challenges. Rains began in November 2025 but were unevenly distributed, with heavier precipitation on the eastern side in areas such as Lotlhakane, Molapowabojang, Moshana, Tswidi, and Diabo. The western side, including Segwagwa, Mogapinyana, Gasita, Lerolwane, and Masoke, regions that enjoyed bumper harvests in the previous season, experienced low to no significant rainfall initially, she added.

By December 2025, Ms Tonoko said rains improved and covered most settlements. However, she reiterated that January 2026 brought a complete dry spell. 

“Many farmers who ploughed in December saw their germinating crops suffer from high temperatures, resulting in scorching and reduced viability.”

Overall, ploughing activity in the Kanye district was notably lower than in previous seasons. Only 260 hectares were ploughed by 174 farmers; 81 men and 93 women, she said.

Ms Tonoko expressed optimism that February 2026 could bring more favourable rains, allowing farmers with means to expand their cultivated areas. 

In the meantime, agricultural extension officers have advised farmers to opt for quick-germinating crops such as beans to better cope with the unpredictable weather patterns. According to Ms Tonoko, the ploughing season for the Southern part ended on January 31.

The Lemang Dijo programme continues to play a vital role in supporting smallholder farmers across Botswana amid efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and food security. 

Residents of Gasita have expressed support for the establishment of a dedicated Constitutional Court in Botswana, viewing it as a vital step towards protecting citizens’ rights and addressing long-standing grievances.

This emerged during a consultative meeting held recently, where the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General Pius Mokgware engaged the community on the proposed constitutional court’s creation.

The discussions formed part of ongoing nationwide consultations aimed at gathering public input on introducing the court to strengthen constitutional interpretation and rights enforcement.

One resident, Mr Kelebileone Puoeng emphasised the need for the court to fulfill its intended mandate. He shared personal experiences of rights violations and expressed confidence that such a specialised court would provide timely and effective resolutions in the future.

Mr Ntshekisang Tekanyo echoed this view, stressing that the court must serve the interests of all Batswana without deviation from its proposed purpose.

Participants highlighted the constitutional court’s potential to make justice more accessible, particularly for those marginalised by high legal fees. They noted that land disputes, a common issue in rural areas, could be resolved more fairly and affordably through the new judicial body.

Minister Mokgware reinforced these points with real-world examples. He referenced the case of Mr Pitseng Gaoberekwe, whose body remained in a mortuary for three years amid a dispute over burial rights on ancestral land, a matter he described as a clear human rights violation that a constitutional court could have addressed swiftly.

The minister also pointed to the liquidation of the BCL mining group, suggesting that former employees might have used the court to contest their rights and entitlements more effectively. Additionally, he highlighted inheritance disputes as another area where the court would provide much-needed intervention.

Maj. Gen Mokgware further noted that restoring powers to traditional leaders through the court’s framework would aid in resolving inheritance matters and uphold customary governance.

Meanwhile residents raised concerns about local infrastructure. They urged the government to prioritise tarring the Selokolela-Gasita-Lorolwane Road, which is currently in poor condition and hinders movement between villages.

The consultative meeting reflects broader national dialogue on constitutional reforms, with communities across Botswana weighing the benefits of a specialised court against other priorities. Residents in Gasita appeared optimistic about its potential to enhance justice and rights protection for ordinary citizens.