By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Hangala
To counter the increasing proximity and intensity of the risk of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) crossing over to Namibia from South Africa, the former aims to take proactive actions with accelerated prevention and preparedness measures.
Preliminary estimates indicate that an investment of approximately N$1.5 billion will be required to complement the already-approved N$57 million for said measures. The allocation of these funds aim to adequately protect a livestock sector valued at N$15 billion and preserve the country’s vital market access.
This is according to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, who updated Parliament yesterday as the FMD spreads rapidly in neighbouring countries, threatening beef and bi-products supply.
As of 08 February 2026, a new case of FMD was detected 400 kilometres from Namibian borders at Kuruman in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
The required funding is expected to reinforce surveillance, response capacity, and the implementation of key bio-security intervention, according to the Ministry. These enhanced prevention and control measures include the re-zoning of the current FMD-free zone into smaller, compartmentalised FMD-free zones to improve disease containment should an outbreak occur.
They also involve the construction of cleaning, disinfection, and incineration facilities at all eight border posts in the FMD-free zone. Thus, the Ministry is assessing the total financial requirements needed to reinforce national FMD preparedness and prevent disease introduction.
“We do, however, have a shortfall and we call upon our partners to help us secure the necessary funding within the shortest possible time,” said Zaamwani.
The Northern Cape Province borders southern Namibia, enhancing the threat of the disease reaching the nation by means of the shared border, cross-border livestock movement, and trade dynamics. Moreover, Botswana – also a bordering nation – has reported an FMD breakout within its Disease Control Zone 6b, further heightening the risk for Namibia.
In her update, the Minister indicated that elevated risks from the southern and eastern neighbours threaten the value chain and industries that depend on the livestock sector. As a result, the breakout necessitates the urgent measures aforementioned.
“These actions are critical to safeguarding our national livestock sector and protecting our hard-earned market access,” stated Zaamwani.
To supplement the disease control measures currently in place, for the country to continue to maintain its FMD-free zone status as officially recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Ministry has implemented various proactive prevention measures.
These include the suspension and strict control of imports of cloven-hoofed animals and their products from all affected areas, as well as those from non-export-approved establishments. This is to prevent the introduction of the disease through high-risk animal or product movements, noted the Ministry.
The Ministry has also deployed additional veterinary personnel to reinforce human resource capacity to intensify the inspection of vehicles at all border points to prevent the illegal movement of high-risk animal products.
To enhance coordinated enforcement and operational support for disease control interventions across the country, the Ministry has indicated that it is engaging the NDF and NamPol through their oversight Ministries.
Additionally, surveillance at border farms will be substantially intensified from once a year to once a month, while the current annual inspection cycle will be revised to allow for more frequent clinical and serological surveillance activities, aligned with the heightened risk.
“This includes the rehabilitation and strengthening of critical border infrastructure, such as fencing, to reduce the probability of cross-border incursions of animals,” explained Zaamwani.
She also shared the Ministry’s plan to establish disease control and buffer zones within the FMD-free zone on a phased approach basis. The initial focus will be on establishing a control zone in the //Karas Region, while concurrently rehabilitating existing internal stock and game fencing in the Hardap, Omaheke, and Otjozondjupa regions within the next 6 months.
Special attention will be directed towards improving oversight of livestock movements particularly within buffer zones and high-risk regions to ensure full compliance with veterinary movement protocols and prevent unauthorised transfers that could accelerate disease spread.
Zaamwani emphasised that any introduction of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease into Namibia would have severe economic ramifications, including the immediate imposition of trade restrictions and long-term disruptions to international markets.
Since 2019, the SADC region has experienced recurring outbreaks of FMD, particularly in South Africa, which consequently lost its FMD-free status as recognised by WOAH.
erastus@thevillager.com.na
