Mbabane, Swaziland — Cattle owners in two areas of Swaziland affected by the foot and mouth disease or FMD have complained bitterly against a government order to kill their animals without compensation.

The cattle farmers have not taken kindly to the order by the veterinary department of the ministry of agriculture and co- operatives, saying this was unfair because they depended entirely on cattle for their livelihood.

Swazi Prime Minister, Sibusiso Dlamini, had to intervene to assure the affected farmers that compensation would be paid after consultations with the chiefs.

The farmers complaint followed a government order issued Friday that 2,300 heads of cattle infected by FMD at Mafucula should be killed with immediate effect.

The order, signed by the Principal Secretary in the ministry of agriculure and co-operatives, Noah Nkambule, states that: "Any animal or stock which are found to be infected with foot and mouth or have been in contact with any animal or stock infected with FMD shall be destroyed immediately."

The order calls for the immediate destruction of all animals or stock "which have been in the area herewith declared a quarantined area and bordered by the redline in the west, the Mbuluzi River in the south, the Swaziland/Mozambican border in the east and Swaziland/South African border."

This order follows the outbreak of FMD at Tsambokhulu and Mafuculu both areas situated in the northeastern part of Lubombo region of Swaziland.

It is believed that livestock from these areas contracted the disease from cattle from Mbuzini in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

Cattle owners from these two Swazi areas sometimes graze in South Africa after cutting the boundary fence.

Lubombo regional veterinary officer, Dr. Mphumuzi Sukati, said the infected cattle were identified from about 12 000 which were inspected at Tsambokhulu.

According to the order, the destruction of the animals would be done in the most human way through shooting or stunning by the veterinary, police or army personnel.

It further compels cattle farmers to report livestock that show signs of FMD. The order also prohibits farmers from slaughtering their cattle, goats, sheep and pigs or cause their slaughter in declared quarantine areas, other than in accordance with a written permit by a veterinary official.

Those who fail to comply with the order could be fined between E400 and E600 or imprisonment for a period of one to two years, or both.

The order further states that owners of all infected and suspected stock and stock that have been exposed to FMD infection shall keep such stock in a separate place to prevent further infection of the stock.

Farmers are also ordered to prevent their infected stock from leaving the places where they are isolated or kept away from healthy animals.

That includes avoiding taking the infected animals to dipping tanks. The order goes on to say that owners of such stock should immediately inform their neighbours and the nearest veterinary authorities or security personnel.

It prohibits the taking of infected animals anywhere within 100 metres from any public road in the quarantined areas unless they are kept or confined in a kraal or stable.