Veterinary officers, policymakers, and government officials at the SADC livestock regional workshop
BY PHESHEYA KUNENE – EDITOR
MANZINI – Southern African countries have agreed on urgent coordinated action to contain Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), as Eswatini accelerates vaccination and tightens movement controls to stabilise its livestock sector.
The resolution follows a SADC Livestock Technical Committee meeting held from 8 to 9 April 2026 in Johannesburg, where policymakers, veterinary authorities, and development partners warned that the transboundary disease is disrupting trade, threatening food security, and increasing production costs across the region.
According to the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), outbreaks have now been recorded in multiple countries, including Eswatini, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, reinforcing the need for a harmonised regional response.
Regional pressure mounts
Opening the meeting, South Africa’s Director General of Agriculture, Mooketsa Ramasodi, stressed that fragmented responses would fail to contain the disease.
“Foot and Mouth Disease is manageable, but if we act in isolation, we will all be affected as our success is interconnected,” he said.
Veterinary experts warned that the region is facing sustained pressure from recurring outbreaks, with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) describing the situation as critical.
Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo noted, “The sub-region is under attack from Foot and Mouth Disease,” highlighting the strain on veterinary systems and national resources.
From a food systems perspective, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) cautioned that livestock disruptions extend beyond farms.
“Livestock underpins food security, livelihoods and trade, but recurring outbreaks continue to disrupt markets and increase production costs,” said Dr Elma Zanamwe.
Eswatini steps up response
In Eswatini, the outbreak has triggered a nationwide vaccination campaign and strict biosecurity measures. Latest figures indicate that over 200 000 cattle have been vaccinated out of an estimated national herd of 600 000 to 700 000, with the government targeting full coverage by mid-2026.
The response includes:
Expansion of veterinary teams from 11 to 18
Deployment of over 370,000 vaccine doses, with additional consignments secured
Establishment of 24-hour disease control checkpoints
Continued restrictions on the movement and sale of cloven-hoofed animals
Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Themba Luyanda Khumalo, said containment remains the priority.
“Our strategy is focused on aggressive vaccination, strict movement control and surveillance. Farmers must comply fully because any gap in adherence undermines national and regional efforts to contain this disease,” he said.
Khumalo added that Eswatini’s livestock sector remains highly exposed due to cross-border animal movement and communal grazing systems, making coordinated regional action critical.
Mpho Maja is delivering her presentation
Heavy economic impact
FMD continues to weigh heavily on Eswatini’s livestock value chain. The country has lost access to premium export markets, including the European Union, while domestic trade remains constrained by movement restrictions.
The livestock sector contributes significantly to agricultural GDP and rural livelihoods, with cattle serving both commercial and cultural purposes. However, disruptions have resulted in:
Reduced off-take to formal markets such as abattoirs
Increased production costs linked to feed and compliance
Depressed prices in informal markets
Livestock farmer and agribusiness operator Jonathan van Staden, Director of Ngwane Enterprise, said the impact on the hides and skins industry has been severe.
“We are seeing the consequences of disrupted trade in real time. Hides cannot move, exports slow down, and value is lost along the chain. Without coordinated disease control, the entire industry becomes unstable,” he said.
He added that strengthening standards and regional coordination would be key to restoring market confidence and unlocking export opportunities.
Farmers call for implementation, not talk
Representing farmers, ESNAU CEO Tammy Dlamini welcomed the regional push but stressed the need for execution at ground level.
“As farmers, we support coordinated regional action, but what matters now is implementation. We need systems that work on the ground, from vaccination to market access, so that farmers can continue producing with confidence,” he said.
Dlamini noted that prolonged uncertainty is already affecting production decisions, with some farmers delaying restocking while others are forced into distress sales.
Regional strategy takes shape
Deliberations at the SADC meeting identified key priorities for a unified response:
Strengthening diagnostic and laboratory capacity
Expanding vaccine production and availability
Improving surveillance and early detection systems
Establishing disease-free zones and compartments
Enhancing livestock identification and traceability
CCARDESA emphasised that FMD cannot be addressed at the national level alone.
“The transboundary nature of the disease means no country can act in isolation. A science-based, harmonised regional approach is essential,” said Dr Majola Mabuza.
Political leadership signals urgency
Eswatini’s Minister of Agriculture has consistently underscored the need for strict compliance with veterinary regulations, accelerated vaccination, and stronger farmer cooperation to protect the national herd and restore market access.
In South Africa, authorities have taken an aggressive stance, declaring FMD a national priority and rolling out a large-scale vaccination campaign that has already covered over 1.7 million cattle, with a long-term containment strategy in place.
Regional leaders agree that livestock is central to economic resilience.
“Livestock is not just a source of food, it is a store of wealth, a source of resilience and a pathway out of poverty,” said SADC Secretariat representative Duncan Samikwa.
Outlook
While the scale of the outbreak remains significant, there is growing consensus that coordinated regional action, backed by science, enforcement, and farmer compliance, can stabilise the sector.
For Eswatini, the path forward will depend on how quickly vaccination targets are met, movement controls are enforced, and regional cooperation translates into practical results on the ground.
