BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka has called on Southern African countries to strengthen cooperation in order to protect livestock and permanently eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) from the region.
Speaking to Eswatini TV, Tshawuka said regional collaboration, particularly through mass vaccination programmes, is essential given the close proximity of neighbouring countries and the reality of porous borders that allow livestock to move freely across territories.
“The countries in Southern Africa are neighbours, and our borders are often porous. Livestock can graze in and out of different countries, which makes regional cooperation not just important, but necessary,” Tshawuka said.
He expressed satisfaction with South Africa’s decision to roll out mass vaccination against FMD, noting that this complements Eswatini’s own efforts to combat the disease. Tshawuka said it would be counterproductive for Eswatini to vaccinate in isolation while neighbouring countries continued to struggle with outbreaks.
“It would be illogical for Eswatini to vaccinate alone when South Africa is facing the same challenge. Vaccinating together gives us a real chance to eradicate FMD once and for all,” he said.
The minister also revealed that Eswatini is actively engaging Mozambique on livestock disease control, following a directive from His Majesty King Mswati III. He said the King commissioned government ministries to explore areas of cooperation with Mozambique, with the Ministry of Agriculture playing a key role in these discussions.
Tshawuka noted that Mozambique currently has a relatively small livestock population due to its historical challenges, including a prolonged civil war. Despite this, he said cooperation remains vital to prevent the spread of animal diseases across borders.
In the broader regional context, Tshawuka identified Eswatini, South Africa and Namibia as the countries most affected by FMD. He expressed hope that Namibia would also implement mass vaccination programmes to strengthen the regional response.
The minister further emphasised the importance of controlling the movement of people, livestock and animal products that could potentially carry the disease.
“Vaccination alone is not enough. We must also strengthen movement controls to protect our livestock industry and safeguard farmers’ livelihoods,” he said.
Tshawuka’s remarks reflect Eswatini’s commitment to regional solidarity, proactive disease management and the long-term sustainability of the livestock sector, which remains a critical pillar of the country’s agricultural economy.
