by Ncaba Ntshakala
The Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka has emphasized the importance of a unified African approach in tackling transboundary animal diseases, highlighting that participation in setting international standards is vital for the continent’s agricultural success.
Speaking at the opening of the 12th Regional Steering Committee of the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) in Eswatini, the minister stressed that collaboration is key to safeguarding livestock and ensuring food security.
“As Africa, it is important to speak with one voice on international issues, especially those that are contentious and affect our populations most,” Tshawuka said.
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He stated the role of the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in shaping Africa’s stance on global animal health regulations, ensuring that the continent’s interests are represented in international decision-making processes.
The minister acknowledged the remarkable achievements of GF-TADs in the past two decades, particularly the eradication of rinderpest, which once devastated African livestock.
“This disease decimated our animals as Africans at some point in time but was effectively eradicated in 2011 through collaboration between animal production, animal health, and veterinary medicine,” he said.
Tshawuka highlighted that through collective action, Africa can combat other persistent animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), African Swine Fever, and Avian Influenza.
He expressed pride in Eswatini’s recognition by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as free from these diseases without vaccination, a status that safeguards both local markets and livestock productivity.
Tshawuka also posed a challenge to experts attending the GF-TADs meeting, urging them to find innovative solutions that would prevent transboundary diseases without disrupting intra-African trade.
Citing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), he lamented that countries often resort to closing borders as a protective measure against disease outbreaks, a practice that stifles regional trade.
“What I have seen, especially in this country, is a lot of measures that are punitive and detrimental to intra-African trade like closing our borders as a means of preventing transboundary diseases like FMD,” he noted.
The minister called on veterinarians, policymakers, and researchers to devise alternative control mechanisms that allow safe genetic imports while maintaining biosecurity.
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“Eswatini certainly does not want FMD, for example, to come here, but we do want to bring genetics from outside our borders to improve our herds,” he asserted.
He urged stakeholders to seize the opportunity of the GF-TADs platform to develop strategies that balance disease control with economic growth.
Tshawuka added that Eswatini is commited to international cooperation in the fight against transboundary animal diseases, stating that efforts to eliminate these threats are directly linked to achieving food security and poverty reduction.
He encouraged delegates to make the most of their discussions while also taking time to enjoy the peaceful ambiance of Eswatini.
“The most fundamental and basic of our goals is to end hunger and poverty among our people.
Animal diseases present impediments in our efforts to attain food sovereignty and improve household livelihoods. That is why we need to stay vigilant,” he said.
