The Botswana government last month engaged the cash strapped CSC to assist in slaughtering cattle infected with foot and mouth to curb the disease from spreading from zone V1 which is along the border with Zimbabwe. The Botswana meat processor, Botswana Meat Commission, which exports beef to the European Union do not have the capacity to cull the 45 000 animals from the infected area within a certain period as per the strict requirements of the EU.
The Botswana cattle deal has, however, received stiff resistance from butcher operators and members of the public who prefer beef from local from private abattoirs.
“If the beef has been rejected by the EU for having foot and mouth disease why should the beef be dumped here? The fact of the matter is that the animals are infected with the disease and it is not safe to consume contaminated meat,” said Blessing Ncube who operates abutchery in the city centre.
Another butcher operator, Trainos Shoko, said although the wholesale beef price from the CSC was cheaper compared to other private abattoirs who sold meat he preferred beef from private abattoirs.
“These days most of our clients demand to know the source of the beef before they buy. Our clients prefer local, meat, chickens and sausages,” he said.
A veterinary doctor, Brain Mutisi, explained that humans could be infected with foot-and–mouth disease through contact with infected animals, but that it was extremely rare.
“There is no need for the public to panic about Botswana beef. The virus that spreads FMD is sensitive to stomach acids. It cannot spread to humans via consumption of the infected meat except in the mouth before the meat is swallowed,” said Mutisi.
Mutisi said the last confirmed human case of foot and mouth occurred in 1966.
Mutisi said CSC was supposed to have embarked on a massive public education campaign before selling the beef.
The CSC is paying Botswana a flat rate of 2 000 pula per beast, in addition to transport costs. A kilogramme of the Botswana beef cost US$3 while local beef costs between US$ 4 and US$5, depending on the quality.
Post published in: Business