Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
31 October 2008
Gallons of unprocessed milk continued to pour into the country from South Africa this week, days after the memorandum banning all movement of fresh dairy and beef products was issued on Monday, following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Gantsi District.
Milk importers interviewed yesterday said they are not aware that they are not to import milk.The deputy director of veterinary services, Kgosietsile Motsu, confirmed yesterday in a phone interview that importers of raw milk approached him yesterday indicating that there seems to be confusion as to whether the Monday memorandum banned the importation of raw milk from South Africa, which is not affected by the FMD.
He confirmed that giant raw milk importers such as Delta Fresh, Clover, and Sally Dairies, to name a few, have been receiving supplies of milk from South Africa until yesterday.
Interestingly, the milk was not only allowed to pass through the border. but permits for the product were issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Motsu says when his office enquired with the customs office, they learnt that the customs officials had not understood the memorandum. The deputy director also said his people, who issue permits for the importation of milk also claimed ignorance.
Motsu says it was only yesterday that his office wrote to the director general of Botswana Unified Revenue Services(BURS) stating in plain terms that no fresh dairy products, including raw milk and raw meat, should be allowed to pass.
"It is critical that transportation permits remain frozen countrywide. We are aware of companies that have been importing raw milk. Some reason that they do not see the reason why South African milk should be banned since that country is not affected by FMD. But people should realise that the raw milk they are importing is not only coming to Gaborone. Some of the milk passes to other towns, and we cannot allow that," Motsu said.
"The veterinary department should not have issued these companies with transportation permits. The press release that we issued on Monday plainly said we are banning the movement of fresh dairy and beef products in the whole country. But we have since written to customs, and veterinary department to comply. We wrote to them today (Thursday)," Motsu went on.
Meanwhile, Clover Botswana, which has operations in Gaborone and Francistown, declined to comment yesterday. The MD, Hank Lewis, said he is still awaiting the right information from the office of the director of veterinary services on Monday, before they can make any comment.
Sally Dairy general manager, Sujeewe Gamagedera, confirmed that he continues to receive milk from South Africa and locally, in Tlokweng. He claimed that he never understood the memorandum issued on Monday banning importation of raw milk. He also said he was surprised on Tuesday when two of his trucks were turned away at the Makoro cordon fence on their way to deliver fresh milk to Palapye, Serowe, Mahalapye, Francistown and other parts of the country in the North.
He said they get raw milk from South Africa three times a week. So far they have been getting their supplies without hitches at the border, and they expect the next load of raw milk today.
Meanwhile, Howard Sigwele, of Delta Fresh milk brand says he has been able to import daily supplies of milk from South Africa throughout this week. He says he is not aware of any ban on South African raw milk. Segwele's company does not get milk from local suppliers, and all its daily supplies of 75 litres come from South Africa.
He was surprised when Mmegi put it to him that importing raw milk is banned. Segwele had to call the veterinary office first to confirm if indeed it is true that raw milk imports are banned. Later he said, "I have confirmed.
But we did not know that at all. We will have to comply. My worry is why should the FMD outbreak in Gantsi affect milk from South Africa where there is no FMD," Delta Fresh MD said.
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