- Stricter border controls.

- Outbreaks in Botswana and SA signify unprecedented FMD risk. 

- N$1.5 billion funding needed to protect vital market access and industry worth N$15 billion.

- Safeguarding FMD-free status is a fundamental national priority and shared responsibility.   

- Government remains unwavering in commitment to protect. 

- Secure national herd.

The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) has more than doubled its frontline personnel from 23 to 52 officials, and plan to add an additional 28 to enhance operational capacity and expedite preventative measures to reinforce Namibia’s borders. 

This was revealed by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, in a ministerial statement on 10 February. 

This expansion of manpower is part of a direct response to the escalating risk of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) from neighboring countries. Alongside the increase in staff, the Ministry has suspended the importation of all cloven-hoofed animals and their products from affected regional zones and implemented intensified vehicle searches.

Logistical measures now include the establishment of disinfection drive-through bays at high-traffic entry points, specifically the Noordoewer and Ariamsvlei border posts.

These actions follow recent outbreaks in Botswana’s Zone 6b and South Africa’s Northern Cape, the latter occurring within 400km of the Namibian border. The Ministry’s technical assessment indicates that these regional developments have placed the national herd under unprecedented risk.

To sustain these defensive operations and maintain Namibia’s FMD-free status, the Ministry has identified a total funding requirement of N$1.5 billion. This capital is intended to protect a livestock sector currently valued at N$15 billion and to ensure continued access to international export markets. The government has stated its commitment to securing these resources as a matter of national economic priority.

While the state is leading the mobilization of resources and infrastructure, the Ministry emphasizes that protecting the industry is a shared responsibility. The success of these border controls depends on the cooperation and vigilance of all stakeholders within the agricultural sector and the general public.

FULL SPEECH: 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

UNITY, LIBERTY, JUSTICE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF NAMIBIA

10 FEBRUARY 2026

BY: HON. INGE I. ZAAMWANI, MP MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER AND LAND REFORM

ON THE STATUS AND PREPAREDNESS REGARDING THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) SITUATION IN NAMIBIA

Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members,

1. I rise today with great humility and a profound sense of duty to brief this August House on the status of the country's level of preparedness to manage and contain the outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Namibia. FMD is a highly contagious transboundary animal disease with far-reaching consequences for livestock, livestock production, and associated products. Its impact extends to farmers' livelihoods, national food security, and the overall stability of our agricultural sector. Moreover, any outbreak triggers stringent prohibitions on the export of meat and meat products, an industry that contributes significantly to national trade and economic stability.

2. Since 2019, the SADC region has continued to experience recurring outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), particularly in the Republic of South Africa (RSA), which consequently lost its FMD-free status as recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). As of Sunday, 08 February 2026, a new case was confirmed at Kuruman in the Northern Cape, which is about 400 kilometres from the Namibian border. The Northern Cape province borders the entire southern Namibia, including both the //Kharas and Hardap regions, bringing the threat closer to home.

3. South Africa has reported FMD outbreaks affecting cloven-hoofed animals. These ongoing outbreaks pose a persistent and escalating threat to Namibia due to shared borders, cross-border livestock movements, and regional trade dynamics.

4. Furthermore, I wish to draw the attention of this August House to the recently issued notification of a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak within Botswana's FMD-Free Zone 6b. This development substantially heightens the regional risk profile and presents an immediate and significant threat to Namibia.

5. The occurrence of FMD in an area previously recognised as FMD-free underscores the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the disease. Such an occurrence greatly increases the likelihood of transboundary transmission, particularly through both formal and informal movements of livestock and livestock products.

6. The elevated risk emanating from both our southern and eastern neighbours carries profound implications for Namibia, particularly in relation to:

• The preservation of Namibia's FMD-free status;

• The livestock and meat export industry;

• Revenue generation and employment opportunities; and

• The livelihoods of farmers and food security.

7. Honourable Members, any introduction of Foot-and-Mouth virus into Namibia would have severe economic ramifications, including the immediate imposition of trade restrictions and long-term disruptions to international markets.

8. I therefore wish to assure this Honourable House and the nation at large that, owing to the robust and well-established disease control measures currently in place, Namibia continues to maintain its FMD-free zone status, as officially recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

9. The recent developments in neighbouring countries, however, necessitate heightened surveillance and vigilance, strengthened rapid response capacity, and sustained investment in prevention and preparedness measures. These actions are critical to safeguarding our national livestock sector and protecting our hard-earned market access.

Honourable Speaker,

10. I am pleased to inform this August House that the Ministry has already instituted a series of preventative and risk-mitigation measures to safeguard the country against Foot-and-Mouth Disease. These include the following:

• 10.1 The suspension and strict control of imports of cloven-hoofed animals and their products from all affected areas and from non-export-approved establishments. These measures are critical in preventing the introduction of the virus through high-risk animal or product movements.

• 10.2 Deployment of additional Veterinary Personnel: The Ministry has significantly reinforced human resource capacity by deploying additional veterinary personnel at both major and minor border posts.

• 10.3 In addition to the 23 permanently deployed DVS officials stationed at various border posts, a further 29 officers have been mobilised to reinforce frontline operations. Of these, 16 were deployed through the support of the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN), while 13 were seconded by the Directorate of Veterinary Services from other offices. Furthermore, efforts are underway to deploy an additional 28 officials in order to significantly enhance operational capacity and expedite preventative measures aimed at keeping FMD out of the country.

• 10.4 The Ministry has intensified the inspection and searching of vehicles at all border points to prevent the illegal movement of high-risk animal products.

• 10.5 The Directorate of Veterinary Services continues to issue Veterinary Public Notifications to ensure rapid and transparent communication of disease risks, control measures, and movement restrictions to farmers, industry stakeholders, and the broader public.

• 10.6 In close collaboration with key livestock industry stakeholders, the Directorate of Veterinary Services has conducted targeted Foot-and-Mouth Disease awareness campaigns for border control agencies and farmers in high-risk regions.

• 10.7 To enhance coordinated enforcement and operational support for disease control interventions across the country, the Ministry is engaging the NDF and NamPol through their oversight Ministries.

• 10.8 Cabinet approved an allocation of N$57.5 million to support critical FMD prevention and preparedness activities. This funding will reinforce surveillance, response capacity, and the implementation of key biosecurity interventions.

• 10.9 Strengthening of Border Biosecurity Measures: In January, senior officials from the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), the Roads Authority, the Livestock and Livestock Products Board, and Ministerial Engineers conducted comprehensive site assessments at the Noordoewer and Ariamsvlei border posts to identify suitable locations for disinfection facilities and drive-through washing bays. Similarly, the Ministry will establish permanent incineration facilities for the safe disposal of confiscated animal products.

• 10.10 In this regard, I wish to commend the ongoing efforts of the livestock industry, together with financial institutions, who are working collaboratively to mobilise an FMD Emergency Fund. This initiative aims to complement government resources and support both ongoing and future interventions.

Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members,

11. In light of the significantly increased regional risk of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, the Government, through the Ministry, will intensify and expand the following priority actions:

• 11.1 Strengthening Border Patrols: Border patrols will be increased in frequency and scope. The Ministry is reviewing the current schedule with the intention to shift from quarterly patrols to far more frequent and responsive patrols, subject to resource availability.

• 11.2 Enhanced Surveillance: Surveillance at border farms will be intensified from once a year to once a month. This includes the rehabilitation and strengthening of critical border infrastructure, such as fencing, to reduce the probability of cross-border incursions of animals.

• 11.3 Establishment of Disease Control and Buffer Zones: We plan to establish disease control and buffer zones within the FMD-Free Zone on a phased approach basis. The initial priority will be the //Karas Region, while concurrently rehabilitating internal stock and game fencing in the Hardap, Omaheke, and Otjozondjupa Regions within the next 6 months.

• 11.4 Monitoring of Animal Movements: 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 protocols.

• 11.5 Development of a National FMD Vaccine Store: The Ministry will establish a national Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine storage facility to ensure rapid access to vaccines in the event of an outbreak, particularly in the //Karas and Hardap Regions, with immediate effect.

• 11.6 Capacity Building and National Awareness Initiatives: The Ministry will continue to strengthen the capacity of veterinary officials and enforcement personnel through targeted training and intensified national awareness campaigns for farming communities.

• 11.7 Securing Additional Funding: The Ministry is assessing total financial requirements. We do have a shortfall and call upon our partners to help secure the necessary funding within the shortest possible time.

• 11.8 Given that South Africa's FMD control strategy is projected to take approximately ten (10) years to fully implement, and with the recent outbreak in the Northern Cape, the risk to Namibia has increased significantly.

• 11.9 Namibia must urgently accelerate its prevention measures. Preliminary estimates indicate that an investment of approximately N$1.5 billion will be required, over and above the already approved N$57.5 million, to adequately protect a livestock sector valued at N$15 billion.

• 11.10 These enhanced measures include the re-zoning of the current FMD-free zone into smaller, compartmentalised zones to improve containment, and the construction of disinfection and incineration facilities at all eight border posts.

Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members,

12. The recent Foot-and-Mouth Disease notification in Botswana, coupled with continued outbreaks in South Africa, demonstrates that Namibia is surrounded by unprecedented levels of risk. Safeguarding our FMD-free status is a fundamental national priority.

13. The Government remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting animal health and preserving Namibia's access to high-value international markets through proactive, science-based measures.

1. Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, as I conclude, I wish to reaffirm that safeguarding Namibia's FMD-free status is a shared national responsibility. I call upon all stakeholders—farmers, traders, transporters, and enforcement agencies—to support and comply with the disease control measures put in place. Together, we can secure our national herd and ensure a prosperous future for all Namibians.