BY: SIKHONA SIBANDZE | JOURNALIST
MANZINI — Eswatini has received the first batch of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines from Botswana.
Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka confirmed that 70,000 doses arrived on 13 February 2026, with a further 50,000 expected during the week of 16–22 February 2026. He said the government was launching a phased national vaccination programme aimed at containing the outbreak and restoring livestock trade.
Speaking on Eswatini TV, Tshawuka said additional consignments would follow until the country has secured enough doses to complete nationwide coverage. He added that the ministry expects that within four months, all cattle should be vaccinated and protected.
Phased rollout to protect disease-free areas first
Vaccination is expected to begin in Hhohho, where the disease has not spread, before moving to Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni. The phased approach is intended to protect unaffected areas while reinforcing disease-control measures in regions that have recorded cases.
Tshawuka underscored the importance of vaccination stations, crediting them with preventing a potentially wider outbreak. “The vaccination stations have played a huge role in curbing the spread of the disease. If it were not for these stations, the whole country would have been infected,” he said.
July target for local trade, but exports to take longer
The minister said cooperation from the public and farmers will be decisive in determining how quickly Eswatini can regain full control of the disease. “If Emaswati works with the ministry and complies with the rules put in place to curb the disease, it is estimated that by July the country could be FMD-free. Farmers would then be able to sell their meat locally without any problems,” Tshawuka said.
However, he cautioned that the resumption of beef exports will take longer because vaccination must be followed by monitoring in line with international animal health standards. “Exporting beef will take time. Even after cattle are vaccinated, they still need to be monitored,” he explained.
ESNAU welcomes progress, calls for smooth execution
The Eswatini National Agricultural Union (ESNAU) welcomed the arrival of the vaccines, expressing optimism while emphasising the need for efficiency and adequate support for field teams.
ESNAU CEO Tammy Dlamini said the union was encouraged by the government’s stance and action, but stressed the importance of strong logistics on the ground to avoid delays. “As a union, we are pleased with the stance and the action taken by the Government,” he said. “We want to believe this will be conducted swiftly, with no hiccups. We will be happy if the Government has provided staff on the ground with all the tools and logistics required so that there are no delays or stoppages. We look forward to farmers being able to trade freely, both locally and internationally. This is critical for livelihoods and the economy.”
A costly outbreak for farmers, the economy — and EU market access
FMD has had far-reaching implications for Eswatini’s livestock industry, disrupting trade, affecting farmer incomes and prompting strict movement controls. The highly contagious viral disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, particularly cattle. While it is rarely fatal in adult animals, its economic consequences can be severe—especially through market closures, movement restrictions and lost trading opportunities.
Beyond local losses, the outbreak also threatens one of the sector’s most strategic opportunities: premium beef exports into the European Union (EU)—a market that typically rewards strong animal-health compliance and traceability with better prices and stable demand. Eswatini benefits from duty-free, quota-free access to the EU under the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, but this access is only valuable if the country maintains strict animal-health status and export eligibility.
That is why FMD detections carry an immediate trade risk. In June 2025, the EU suspended Eswatini’s authorisation to export fresh beef and game meat following confirmed FMD cases, highlighting how quickly animal-health shocks can shut the export window and tighten pressure across the entire value chain—from communal farmers to processors and traders.
The stakes are high because Eswatini has invested heavily—together with partners—in strengthening its livestock value chain for export competitiveness. The EU, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and government have ongoing programmes aimed at upgrading productivity, reducing costs, and improving standards across the sector, including major value-chain support initiatives.
The arrival of the vaccine from Botswana is therefore widely viewed as a critical turning point in the country’s disease-control efforts, raising hopes for recovery and the eventual restoration of normal livestock trade—first locally, and later internationally, once vaccination is completed and monitoring requirements are satisfied.
