Two abattoirs owned by the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), in Francistown and Lobatse, Botswana, remain closed following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Bobirwa area, over a month ago.

The facilities remain idle as BMC’s customers are refusing to accept product until they have received assurances that there is no longer a risk of FMD. However, BMC is still awaiting official recognition from the Department of Agriculture that the facilities are free of the disease.