MBABANE - This is a crisis!
Minister for Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka says the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has reached crisis level in the country, just days before the festive season.
Tshawuka urged all stakeholders to cease finger-pointing and cooperate to contain the disease, which is threatening the meat industry.
The progression of outbreaks since early May indicates a worsening situation, with the disease now confirmed across three regions: Lubombo, Manzini and Shiselweni. Beyond cattle, pigs have also tested positive for FMD.
This has generated doubts, concerns and fears among the public, particularly as they prepare for upcoming festivities such as Christmas, weddings, the payment of bride price (lobola) and other gatherings. Tshawuka emphasised that government is actively managing the outbreak, but illegal movement of livestock and meat, as well as non-compliance with regulations, are undermining containment efforts.
He said measures implemented include controlled movement of cattle and meat with proper documentation, the restoration of cordon lines along porous borders with support from the European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), as well as vaccination and medication programmes.
However, Tshawuka emphasised that financial constraints were stalling the completion of erecting fences along the porous borderlines.
This publication has in the past exposed the porous state of the borderline between South Africa and Eswatini at Lundzi. He said thus far, they had been able to erect a fence along Mkhwakhweni.
It is worth noting that cattle between the two countries move freely, which is suspected to have caused the spread of FMD in the Shiselweni Region. This is because the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province of South Africa had been flagged with FMD around March 2025. Critics have pointed out that the ministry had not done enough, particularly regarding fencing the borderlines to prevent cross-border infection. They expressed concern over the border separating Eswatini and KZN, where FMD is prevalent.
In response, the minister acknowledged government’s shortcomings, attributing them to resource limitations. However, he noted that from the funds obtained from the EU, government has managed to fence approximately seven kilometres along the borderlines. He said government is yet to fence additional sections, with funding from the FAO, which has committed E6 million towards fencing projects.
The minister said the country has a fencing agreement with South Africa, but delays in implementation have occurred due to reasons unknown to the ministry.
He mentioned personal discussions with zones requiring fencing and stated that the ministry relies on the national budget while engaging development partners for fencing projects. Additionally, he said they have involved Microprojects, a department under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, to conduct measurements for proper budgeting. On the other hand, the minister said while the ministry is doing everything possible to eliminate the disease, it also considers disease control in relation to livelihoods.
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Farmers shocked, confused
MBABANE - Farmers have expressed confusion over the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the country.
In an interview yesterday, Eswatini National Agricultural Union President Themba Matsebula said farmers had hoped the disease would be manageable, given the efforts made by government when it was first detected in the Shiselweni Region.
He explained that the confusion was caused by recent developments indicating that a new strain of the disease has been detected, particularly at Mpaka.
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... Tshawuka assures national events FMD-free
MBABANE – The Minister for Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, said the ministry will do everything possible to protect national events from the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
The minister was specifically asked whether any measures were in place to ensure that the disease does not impact the upcoming annual Incwala Ceremony. Notably, livestock, particularly cattle, dominate as part of tetfulo, with large numbers slaughtered during national events.
*Full article available in our publication
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