Fidelis Molao says Botswana needs visible presidential leadership, stronger containment and support for farmers as FMD threatens more livelihoods and markets.
BONGANI MALUNGA
Former agriculture minister Fidelis Molao has urged President Duma Boko to take charge of Botswana’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) response, saying the crisis demands visible leadership from the highest office.
Speaking to The Botswana Gazette, Molao accused the government of lacking the political will needed to mount a coordinated response as the outbreak threatens more livelihoods and markets.
“First things first, the political will from the highest level is simply not there. Given the magnitude of the area affected the President should have been seen leading from the front but we did not see that, we still don’t see it,” he said.
Presidential Leadership
Molao contrasted Boko’s approach with the visibility of political leadership under previous administrations.
He cited an address on FMD by Nelson Ramaotwana while serving as Acting President, arguing that public leadership of the response should not be left to line ministers.
The scale of the crisis required the President’s involvement rather than delegating that role to the agriculture ministry, he said.
Institutional Concerns
Molao also questioned institutional stability, pointing to what he described as more than 12 months without a substantive political head at the agriculture ministry before Dr Edwin Dikoloti was confirmed on a permanent basis.
He criticised the removal of Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) board members and its chief executive officer, saying no explanation had been given.
“This obviously casts a shadow and puts a chilling effect on the rest of the technical team(s). Are they safe in their jobs do they advise honestly and without fear or favour or do they just walk on eggshells fearing for their jobs, your guess is as good as mine,” he said.
Molao described the outbreak as a national disaster and questioned whether the government had activated a sufficiently coordinated response.
“The situation is a National Disaster whichever way you look at it. Has a state of disaster been declared to trigger a whole government response system at political level, your guess is as good as mine,” he said.
Three Priorities
Eight months into the outbreak, Molao said Botswana should have three functioning pillars: effective containment through enforced zones and movement controls; compensation and support for affected farmers; and a transparent vaccination and communication programme with measurable targets.
He also criticised the sequencing of vaccination. Having chosen vaccination rather than mass extermination, the government should have vaccinated cattle ahead of the advancing disease, particularly along the border and the inland containment line, he argued.
This would create a double buffer of vaccinated livestock and physical barriers, he said.
Molao warned that the spread into Kgatleng should trigger an immediate strategy review because Kweneng and Dibete could also be exposed.
Restoring Confidence
He said the President’s visible involvement would help restore confidence among farmers and the public.
“We expect the President to be visible and roll his sleeves during this hour of need to inspire confidence of the people, avail adequate resources,” he said.
Citing Botswana’s previous responses to FMD and COVID-19, Molao argued that strong political leadership had helped coordinate national action.
“Where is President Boko now during this crisis? Surely this cannot be business as usual a visible whole government approach is essential if we are to win this war, livelihoods are being destroyed.”