This is ‘war’, farmer warns as FMD hits

The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) has called on government to declare a state of emergency following the confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) within Namibia’s internationally recognised FMD-free zone.The union said the outbreak poses a serious threat to the livestock industry, rural communities and the national economy.“A state of emergency will make the full resources and powers of the state available to contain the disease,” the union said in a statement.On Thursday, Venotjari Mbaisa, a prominent Namibian cattle breeder of Wolle Brahman Stud, described the situation as going to war.“Foot-and-mouth disease is a war, so we must do what we can to prevent [the spread] so that we can exhibit these animals again in the future," he said at the Gobabis Show, after farmers had been instructed to return their animals to their farms.“If we do not, we will spread the virus throughout the country, so we must do what we can to follow the instructions of the directorate of veterinary services,” Mbaisa added.NAU said it fully supports chief veterinary officer Dr Kenneth Shoombe and the directorate of veterinary services in the agriculture ministry and urged farmers and the public to follow veterinary and law-enforcement instructions.“This disease does not respect fences, borders or good intentions. It is stopped only through discipline, and that discipline must come from all of us,” the union said.“An unauthorised movement of livestock, an unreported case or a negligent visitor can undermine containment efforts,” NAU warned.Livestock owners and members of the public are urged to stop moving cloven-hoofed animals and products derived from them and to immediately report suspected cases or unauthorised movements to the nearest state veterinarian.“Farmers are also urged to strengthen biosecurity measures and avoid spreading unverified information.”Namibian authorities are activating its national FMD contingency plan after the outbreak was confirmed in the Karasburg district on a commercial farm in the Velloorsdrif area of the ǁKharas region.NAU president Thinus Pretorius told Namibian Sun’s sister publication, Republikein, yesterday that the protocol is to monitor an area within a 30-km radius of the epicentre.“Avoid vaccinations and fake news. The most important thing is that we are Namibians and we work together,” he stressed.Work togetherThe outbreak of the devastating and highly contagious animal disease was announced in parliament on Wednesday by acting agriculture minister Charles Mubita.The movement of all cloven-hoofed animals and their raw products has been suspended nationwide with immediate effect.“All marketing and trade in cloven-hoofed animals, as well as the import, export and transit of these animals and their raw products, have been suspended,” state veterinarian authorities said. The slaughter of cloven-hoofed animals at export and local abattoirs, informal markets and during social events has also been halted.The chief veterinary officer also warned farmers against illegally importing FMD vaccines or vaccinating animals within the FMD-free zone.“Such actions are a violation of the law and could have legal consequences,” Shoombe warned.Intensive surveillance has been launched to determine the full extent of the outbreak, while roadblocks are being set up at strategic locations to enforce controls on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their raw products.“Farmers and the public are hereby requested to report any suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease without delay to the nearest state veterinary offices,” Shoombe said.He called on all Namibians to work with veterinary Services to bring the outbreak under control as quickly as possible.The show can’t go onThe Grootfontein Show was interrupted by the shock news during its opening.“Although all cattle and small stock must return to their farms of origin with immediate effect, the rest of the Grootfontein Show and the horse shows will continue until today,” show committee member Elvira Hattingh said.The same applies to the Gobabis Show. Farmers have been instructed to return their animals to their farms.Their message to one another is to remain positive and calm. They are concerned but are encouraging one another and keeping each other level-headed, reports Iréne-Mari van der Walt from the Gobabis Show.“We are concerned about the situation, but my biggest concern is the workers. If a farmer cannot market [livestock], he cannot pay [workers]. We now have to tighten our belts, which is essential because we do not know how long this will continue,” said Japie Engelbrecht, who farms 80 km north-east of Witvlei.Windhoek Show Society managing director Harald Schmidt confirmed to Republikein yesterday that the Windhoek Show will go ahead next week, but without livestock.“We believe that we must do everything to prevent the whole pandemic from spreading across the country. It is the right decision and we fully support it,” he said.Auction activities have also been affected, with all auctions cancelled.Agra Auctions is urging all livestock producers to stay informed, follow official veterinary guidelines and strengthen biosecurity measures on their farms.“Protecting Namibia’s livestock industry is a shared responsibility.”– francoise@nmh.com.na

This is ‘war’, farmer warns as FMD hits

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-25

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This is ‘war’, farmer warns as FMD hits

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-25

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