TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The Zimbabwe and Botswana traditional leaders living along the border have settled their long-running wrangle over livestock.
Over the years the Botswana authorities have been implementing a shoot to kill policy against all cattle from Zimbabwe that stray into their territory.
More than 600 cattle and 109 donkeys from Zimbabwe have been killed.
The beasts are shot and burnt once they cross into Botswana, a move that is done to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease from Zimbabwe to Botswana.
In an interview with Business Times, the acting chief for Mangwe district in Matabeleland South Province, Headman Magcobafuthi said they had a meeting with chiefs from Botswana last month.
“On July 5, 2022, we held a meeting with chiefs in Botswana, along the fence, to further iron out our border issues and to make sure that no livestock is lost.
“The meeting was a follow up to the one that was held with the late Chief Wasi.
“I can safely say the meeting was fruitful because we agreed that if our livestock is seen along the border post they should be pushed back to the Zimbabwean side and not killed. We will also do the same for them,” he said.
Plumtree villagers living along the border fence in the past years have been facing challenges of having their livestock shot in Botswana.
Magcobafuthi said the leaders agreed to live in harmony with each other.
“A matter of fact is we and them are one people divided by a fence but living in the same area. So we have to act likewise.
“We agreed to live in harmony and help each other by pushing back our livestock that cross over the border,” he said.
He added: “In the past year we’ve had no issues with our livestock, especially cattle being killed in Botswana. This means that the meeting we had indeed was fruitful.”
Botswana supplies beef to the European Union and is fearful that any risk of contamination will result in its meat exports being banned
The government is set to put an irrigation pasture scheme in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South Province as it moves to boost cattle production in the country amid reports that locals were losing their livestock to neighbouring communities such as in Botswana.
