Construction of a veterinary cordon fence along the Orange River has started as the government moves to strengthen containment measures against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the //Kharas Region.

The project is expected to be completed within four months.

Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani confirmed that construction had commenced on farms along the Orange River following a two-day visit to the Karasburg Veterinary District on 9 and 10 October to assess progress in containing the outbreak.

The fence is intended to strengthen disease-control measures along Namibia's southern border with South Africa and prevent the spread of FMD beyond the affected areas.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform on Sunday, 1

The inspection covered the area from Homerevier, where construction of the veterinary cordon fence is underway, to Velloorsdrift, where the fence is expected to terminate.

The ministry did not disclose the length of the fence, the construction cost or the contractor responsible for the work.

Construction of a separate containment zone fence is expected to begin during the week of 12 October, following delivery of materials to the site. The ministry said consultations with affected farmers were nearing completion.

The two fencing projects form part of the government's response to the outbreak, which was confirmed in the Karasburg State Veterinary District on 23 September.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced on 5 October that Cabinet had approved a Critical Containment Response Plan a day earlier to prevent the disease from spreading to unaffected parts of Namibia.

The plan includes establishing a containment buffer zone in the Karasburg Veterinary District, erecting veterinary cordon fencing in high-risk areas along the South African border and repairing sections of the Namibia-Botswana border fence.

The fencing work is being undertaken alongside preparations to vaccinate livestock in the outbreak epicentre.

During her visit, Zaamwani inspected a campsite established for vaccination teams and was informed that most teams had arrived, with the remaining teams expected on Sunday, 11 October.

The ministry said the teams were preparing to deploy to the affected area, with vaccination expected to begin once schedules had been agreed upon by the relevant stakeholders.

The statement did not specify how many animals would be vaccinated, how many doses had been secured or the date on which vaccination would commence.

Operational preparedness

Zaamwani also visited the Directorate of Veterinary Services office in Karasburg to assess operational preparedness and available stocks before meeting representatives of affected farmers to discuss their concerns and identify areas requiring cooperation.

Her visit followed inspections of roadblocks at strategic exit points and junctions on Friday, 9 October, where she assessed the readiness of personnel and the availability of equipment needed to enforce disease-control measures.

“I am glad I went on site. I am happy with what I saw,” Zaamwani said, commending officials working around the clock to inspect and fumigate vehicles.

The minister acknowledged that lengthy queues during peak hours were causing delays but said travellers had generally understood the importance of the restrictions.

She said the teams manning the roadblocks would be reinforced, with the Karasburg constituency councillor being approached to help identify young people for temporary employment as casual workers.

Zaamwani also stressed that inspections and other containment measures must continue throughout the day and night, without controls being relaxed after dark.

The ministry previously reported that 16 veterinary checkpoints had been operational since 25 September to restrict unauthorised movements of susceptible livestock and animal products.

At seven checkpoints, officials had searched 2,292 vehicles, with meat and meat products found in violation of the restrictions confiscated and destroyed.

The ministry did not disclose the quantity or value of the meat destroyed or how many motorists had been found transporting prohibited products.

Veterinary authorities are also using the Namibia Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS) to investigate livestock movements before and after the outbreak was detected.

The Directorate of Veterinary Services deployed 20 teams to inspect farms within a 50-kilometre radius of the farm where the disease was first confirmed. By 6 October, the teams had visited 72 of the 81 targeted farms, representing approximately 88.9% of planned inspections.

Outbreak reaches 17 farms

The agriculture ministry's figures as of 6 October showed that the outbreak had reached 17 farms, with 129 animal samples testing positive for FMD.

The number of affected farms increased from the 15 reported by Nandi-Ndaitwah on 5 October, when she also announced 127 confirmed positive cases. The two statements used different descriptions for the positive results.

The President also reported that veterinary teams had inspected 29,313 animals across 68 farms and that 10 roadblocks had been established to strengthen disease control.

The outbreak was officially announced by acting agriculture minister Dr Charles Mubita in the National Assembly on 23 September after laboratory tests confirmed FMD at a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District.

Veterinary officials had collected samples from 11 cattle showing symptoms of the disease on 22 September. Testing at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Windhoek confirmed that 10 samples were positive.

The outbreak occurred within Namibia's internationally recognised FMD-free zone, prompting restrictions on livestock movements and trade.

Zaamwani commended officials from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, the Namibian Police Force, the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia and volunteers involved in the containment operations.

The ministry urged livestock owners to comply with movement restrictions, cooperate with veterinary officials and report suspected FMD cases to the nearest veterinary office.