Staff Writer
The pace at which the government can relax livestock movement restrictions will depend on continued compliance with disease control measures and the effectiveness of initiatives to contain the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform minister Inge Zaamwani has warned.
Zaamwani said the government remained committed to working with farmers, traders and affected communities to reduce the impact of restrictions while protecting the long-term sustainability of Namibia’s livestock industry.
She was speaking on Wednesday during the FMD Support Fund donation handover ceremony in Windhoek, where B2Gold donated N$1.6 million towards national disease containment efforts.
She said contributions to the fund would primarily be used to procure critical materials and equipment for frontline teams involved in containing the disease.
The government has implemented several interventions since FMD outbreaks were recorded in the Karasburg district in the //Karas Region and on Kalala Island in the Zambezi Region.
These include strengthened biosecurity, disease surveillance, livestock movement controls, veterinary checkpoints and vaccinations where appropriate.
Zaamwani said the interventions were necessary to protect animal health, livelihoods, food security and confidence in Namibia’s livestock value chain.
She described protecting the livestock sector as a shared national responsibility requiring resources and cooperation between government, the private sector and farming communities.
Other financial contributions include N$500 000 from Woermann & Brock and Divine Deli, N$200 000 from the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA), N$150 000 from Cymot and N$100 000 from Agribank Namibia.
Summerdown BV donated N$50 000, Namibia Wildlife Ranching contributed N$45 000, while Big Sky Lodges donated N$40 000.
The National Unity Democratic Organisation, Groenkloof Boerdery and Sinclair Services each contributed N$10 000, while Bullsport Farming donated N$5 000. Anonymous donors contributed a further N$12 000.
Several companies and organisations also made in-kind contributions.
Acurit Intelligence Systems provided N$165 000 towards developing the FMD Support Fund website, while Swavett contributed N$60 000 in purchase discounts.
Khan Transport provided transport services valued at N$35 000 to move soda ash across the country.
Seapride Foods donated energy drinks worth N$15 500 for surveillance teams in Karasburg, while Usave Karasburg provided N$10 000 in food vouchers for roadblock personnel in the south. King Price also donated cooler bags for roadblocks.
Zaamwani said the contributions would support Veterinary Services, the Namibian Police and the Namibian Defence Force personnel working at checkpoints and conducting surveillance operations.
She said the disease had remained confined to the Karasburg state veterinary district in the //Karas Region and Kalala Island in the Zambezi Region, attributing this to the efforts of frontline personnel and compliance with containment measures.
The government was also focused on protecting the livelihoods of farmers, traders and communities affected by livestock movement restrictions.
Zaamwani said interventions needed to balance disease containment with measures to gradually ease restrictions and allow livestock trading to resume under prescribed conditions.
The livestock sector supports household incomes, employment and rural livelihoods, while contributing to the broader national economy.
She urged more companies, organisations and individuals to contribute financially or through in-kind support to strengthen the national FMD containment strategy.
