Maseru, Aug. 10 — Botswana has donated 100,000 doses of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines to Lesotho as part of efforts to support the country’s response to the transboundary animal disease and protect livestock livelihoods.
The vaccines, manufactured by the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), were officially handed over in Maseru on Wednesday in an event attended by Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Selibe Mochoboroane, Botswana’s Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Gorataone Dikoloti, and officials from the two countries.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Prime Minister Sam Ntsokoane Matekane expressed gratitude to the Government of Botswana for the donation, describing it as a meaningful demonstration of the strong bond and solidarity between the two neighbouring countries.
He said FMD remains a major challenge for farmers whose livelihoods depend on livestock, adding that the donation had come at the right time to strengthen Lesotho’s national response to the disease.
The Prime Minister said animal diseases require regional cooperation in disease surveillance, vaccination, veterinary services, research, information sharing and livestock movement control.
He said the two countries should use the FMD response to deepen cooperation in livestock production, animal health training, research, technology transfer and investment.
Botswana Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr . Edwin Gorataone Dikoloti said the donation is more than a vaccine handover, describing it as a demonstration of friendship, solidarity and practical cooperation between Botswana and Lesotho.
He said FMD is among the most serious transboundary animal diseases affecting livestock production, threatening food security, disrupting livestock movement, affecting market access and placing pressure on farmers and veterinary services.
Dr. Dikoloti said Botswana decided to support Lesotho during the outbreak because of the close connection between the two countries’ livestock sectors and livelihoods.
He said the vaccines produced by BVI will support Lesotho’s efforts to control and manage FMD.
He noted that BVI is a government-owned institution and a leading strategic institution in the livestock and animal health sector, with expertise in producing vaccines for use in Africa and beyond.
Dr. Dikoloti stressed that vaccination alone is not sufficient to control FMD, saying it must be complemented by effective surveillance, livestock movement control, proper vaccine administration and sustained public awareness.
Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Mr. Selibe Mochoboroane also expressed appreciation to Botswana for its support, saying the donation demonstrated the importance of African solidarity and cooperation in addressing common challenges.
He said the two countries had built strong relations over the years, with cooperation and information sharing between their ministries contributing to effective responses to challenges affecting the agricultural sector.
Mr. Mochoboroane said the vaccine donation is accompanied by technical support. He said the support should not only be viewed as receiving vaccines but also as an opportunity to build sustainable technical capacity for effective disease control.
He called for deeper cooperation between Lesotho and Botswana in livestock production, traceability, processing, value addition, marketing and trade.
Mr. Mochoboroane said the two countries should also finalise their Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in agriculture to provide a formal framework for turning these opportunities into practical programmes benefiting farmers in both countries.
He assured Botswana that the donated vaccines will be put to good use in Lesotho’s efforts to control FMD and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
Meanwhile, BVI Chief Executive Officer Dr Keabetswe Moagabo said the institute remained committed to supporting animal health security and protecting livestock-based livelihoods in the region.
He said the vaccines supplied to Lesotho has been matched to the FMD strains circulating in the region and were produced under strict quality assurance measures.
He said BVI also provides technical assistance, vaccine matching, diagnostic testing and cold-chain support to ensure that vaccines maintain their integrity from production until they reach animals in the field.
Dr . Moagabo said BVI has been working with Lesotho since FMD was identified in February 2026, including supporting technical teams with sample collection, testing and vaccination efforts.
He described the donation as the beginning of a long-term partnership in animal health security rather than a once-off intervention.
Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD) is a highly contagious and severe viral illness affecting cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs.
Ends/ MAMAJ
