GABORONE, Oct. 16– Health authorities in Botswana are closely monitoring the mpox situation following confirmation of cases in neighboring Zambia and Zimbabwe, an official said Tuesday. Zimbabwe confirmed its first two cases this week just days after Zambia reported its first case, Christopher Nyanga, spokesperson for the Botswanan Ministry of Health, told Xinhua over the phone. “The ministry has heightened its surveillance measures at ports of entry to ensure that any case that may come our way is quickly detected and appropriate measures are taken,” Nyanga said. Nyanga said Botswana has intensified surveillance measures in collaboration with neighboring countries in the Southern African Development Community region, though no case of mpox has been detected in the country.
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Botswana launches dairy facility to reduce import dependency
GABORONE, Oct. 16– Botswana launched the Milk Afric dairy facility on Tuesday, aiming to diversify the economy and develop the local dairy industry to reduce its dependency on dairy products from neighboring countries. The project, managed by the country’s main investment agency Botswana Development Corporation, demonstrates an unwavering commitment to fostering economic resilience and supporting sectors with growth potential beyond mining, said Minister of Trade and Industry Mmusi Kgafela at the launching ceremony. Currently, Botswana‘s dairy industry is 85 percent dependent on imports, as the country only produces 15 percent of the national milk demand. Kgafela emphasized the goal to rectify this imbalance. “With this project, we aim to shift the narrative and strive toward self-reliance,” said Kgafela. He said that increasing local dairy production within Botswana will not only boost the food security but also develop a strong domestic dairy industry capable of competing regionally and globally in the future. Located in Lobatse town in southeastern Botswana, the facility is expected to produce roughly 18.9 million liters of milk annually, meeting more than 29.21 percent of national milk demand and bringing the total domestic supply to 44.21 percent. The initiative also aims to develop the value chain for important dairy products such as fresh milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, and whey, creating at least 215 direct jobs.
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