The ban on importation of various vegetable varieties into Botswana from South Africa and other veggie-export countries is keeping the police on their toes. Meanwhile, smugglers continue to elude border authorities to bring vegetables into the country.
Last December, government decided to ban some vegetable imports in a bid to force local food retailers to buy vegetables from local farmers but efforts to meet the national demand are falling short. Police along the borderline are unable to keep up with the rising number of vegetable smugglers who continue to find ways of bringing the perishables into the country despite the ban.
Police officials revealed that the illegal importation of vegetables remains a concern as they continue to arrest and charge people for smuggling perishables every week.
Source: mmegi.bw