Nandi-Ndaitwah, Shanghala to testify in red line case

Vice-president and president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, along with incarcerated former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, have been summoned to testify in the Windhoek High Court on Monday, 20 January 2025. The case centers around activist Job Amupanda's legal challenge seeking the abolishment of the veterinary cordon fence, commonly referred to as the red line.



Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also appearing in her capacity as former international relations minister, is expected to address questions regarding the potential impact of removing the fence on international agreements cited by the government in its defence of the fence. The veterinary cordon fence has long been a controversial measure, dividing the country’s northern and southern regions by restricting the movement of beef from the north.



Shanghala, currently in jail awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in the Fishrot corruption scandal, is named in the case for his former role as head of the Law Reform and Development Commission (LRDC).



The case is expected to attract significant attention due to its implications for Namibia’s agricultural economy, international trade agreements, and the deeply rooted historical and socio-economic issues associated with the red line.