In a powerful display of national unity between Government and private industry, the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, officially launched the National Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Task Force and a dedicated Support Fund. The initiative aims to safeguard the country’s extremely valuable "FMD-free without vaccination" status.
The urgency of the initiative was shown clearly by a remarkable pledging session in Windhoek that saw the private sector pledge N$11 million in just ten minutes. Key contributors included the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), which pledged N$3 million in kind through salaries, statutory costs and operational expenses, alongside Bank Windhoek, First Rand (FNB), DAS Group, Feedmaster, Namib Mills, Agrimark, and Agra.
“So thank you, thank you, thank you once again. Within 10 minutes we were able to raise N$11 million,” said Zamwaani to the private industry leaders who made pledges.
This mobilization comes as Namibia finds itself isolated in terms of animal health, surrounded by FMD outbreaks in neighboring countries. “We are almost like an island within the SADC region. We are the only country that still has an FMD-free status without vaccination and we want to protect that,” said Zaamwani.
The Minister explained that while the Cabinet has already approved N$57.5 million for immediate FMD prevention, the total investment required to fully safeguard the sector in the long term is estimated at N$1.5 billion. The immediate need is estimated at about N$120 million. These resources are deemed essential to protect the N$15 billion livestock industry and the livelihoods of the 70% of Namibians who depend on the broader agricultural sector.
The Task Force's Mandate
The newly formed Task Force, composed of experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, UNAM, and various industry unions, is charged with coordinating a rapid response. As the "first line of defense," the team will focus on early detection and maintaining the integrity of the southern and eastern borders to ensure the long-term competitiveness of Namibian beef on the global stage.
Beyond surveillance, the Task Force will manage the logistics of biosecurity, ensuring that the funds are directed toward high-risk entry points. This includes:
- Intensified Border Patrols: Deploying additional personnel and resources to monitor animal movement across high-risk borders.
- Infrastructure Reinforcement: Repairing and maintaining veterinary fences to prevent contact with infected buffalo or stray livestock from neighboring states.
- Technical Surveillance: Implementing advanced monitoring systems to provide real-time data on potential outbreaks.
- Industry Coordination: Acting as a bridge between the government and private sector players like Meatco and the Meat Board to ensure a unified response to any threat.
