The struggling Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) has been forced to close its abattoirs yet again, this time due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the Bobonong area along the Botswana/Zimbabwe border.

The discovery of the disease means that both the Lobatse and Francistown abattoirs will close indefinitely and shipments of beef destined for the EU have already been turned back.

Botswana’s Department of Animal Health and Production has imposed a ban on the movement of livestock within the affected region and stated that it will continue to monitor the situation.