THE importation of live cattle from Ngamiland in Botswana into Zimbabwe has been suspended after the trading permit expired on January 31 this year.
BY SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
According to Botswana’s The Voice newspaper, Zimbabwe suspended all imports and the move affected farmers in Ngamiland who had benefited as their beasts are banned from the European market due to foot-and-mouth disease that usually breaks out in the area.
A letter written to the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) by the Zimbabwean authorities reads: “We have not been able to secure new permits because our Ministry of Agriculture is still carrying a review of these imports and impact to the local industry.”
There were no indications when the deal would be resuscitated.
BMC Maun branch manager Mothobi Mothobi told The Voice last week that the Zimbabwean permits had expired and had still not been renewed.
He said at the expiry of the deal, 300 cattle were in their kraals awaiting exportation to Zimbabwe.
“We had 300 cattle in our kraals, but we managed to ask for a special permit to sell some, leaving us with 64 cattle,” Mothobi said.
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He said the remaining cattle would be returned to BMC for slaughter.
Mothobi said Zimbabwe was a better market for farmers because it demanded 500 cattle per week.
He said although the Zimbabwean market had been suspended, they would keep on helping farmers to source for other alternatives.
Mothobi said 5 987 cattle from Ngamiland had been exported to Zimbabwe by the time the permit expired last month.
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