Nghaamwa warns farmers
Namibian farmers should not abuse the hospitality of the Angolan authorities who allow them to cross into Angola with their cattle, the governor of Ohangwena has warned.
Ohangwena governor Usko Nghaamwa has expressed concern over Namibian farmers who illegally graze their cattle in Angola, saying they were disrespecting the laws of the neighbouring country.
Nghaamwa, who also farms in Angola, was speaking during a meeting with farmers at Omundaungilo last week.
He warned that they must not take the good relations between the Namibian and Angolan authorities for granted.
Nghaamwa said he was informed by the Angolan authorities about the illegal activities of some Namibian farmers who were reportedly utilising grazing areas not allocated to them.
According to the governor, over 50 000 head of cattle belonging to Namibian farmers are grazing in Angola.
He warned farmers not to abuse the good gesture extended to them by their Angolan counterparts.
“Once you keep on violating this friendship you will be kicked out of Angola and you will end up losing your cattle. Those large numbers of cattle will not be allowed in Namibia and there is nowhere you will keep them.
“It will be good if you behave well to be on the safe side. You must also refrain from going to graze where you are not allowed to,” Nghaamwa said.
The governor said Angola was the only neighbouring country allowing cattle from Namibia to graze there.
“You will never find Namibian cattle grazing in Zambia, Botswana or South Africa; only in Angola. We must respect such a gesture and respect those people.
“We must also try by all means to always reduce the number of our cattle to prevent overgrazing that may force you from grazing even where you are not allowed,” Nghaamwa said.
A group of farmers from the Oshikoto, Oshana, Omusati and Ohangwena regions complained that they were not allowed to bring live cattle or meat back into Namibia and had to sell them in Angola, which is not profitable.
“Our cattle are surviving very well in Angola, but the problem is when we want to sell them. The trading system of the Angolan market is like they are stealing our cattle because there is no value for products and they only offer what they want or feel like.
“At the border it is easy to get into Angola with cattle from Namibia, but getting back into Namibia with cattle from Angola is difficult, unless you are smuggling them in,” one of the farmers claimed.
In 2013, a meeting held in Angola between Nghaamwa and his two Angolan counterparts, Higino Carneiro of the Cuando Cubango province and the former Cunene province governor, the late António Didalewa, agreed to allow communal farmers in Namibia to graze their livestock in Angola on condition that they were registered.
They suggested that mobile offices would be established along the border on the Angolan side for the registration of Namibian farmers moving into Angola to obtain legal grazing privileges there.
Due to a lack of animal disease control in Angola, the Division of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the ministry of agriculture has introduced strict measures at the border to control cattle movements. This is mainly aimed at preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which is common in Angola.
ILENI NANDJATO
Nghaamwa, who also farms in Angola, was speaking during a meeting with farmers at Omundaungilo last week.
He warned that they must not take the good relations between the Namibian and Angolan authorities for granted.
Nghaamwa said he was informed by the Angolan authorities about the illegal activities of some Namibian farmers who were reportedly utilising grazing areas not allocated to them.
According to the governor, over 50 000 head of cattle belonging to Namibian farmers are grazing in Angola.
He warned farmers not to abuse the good gesture extended to them by their Angolan counterparts.
“Once you keep on violating this friendship you will be kicked out of Angola and you will end up losing your cattle. Those large numbers of cattle will not be allowed in Namibia and there is nowhere you will keep them.
“It will be good if you behave well to be on the safe side. You must also refrain from going to graze where you are not allowed to,” Nghaamwa said.
The governor said Angola was the only neighbouring country allowing cattle from Namibia to graze there.
“You will never find Namibian cattle grazing in Zambia, Botswana or South Africa; only in Angola. We must respect such a gesture and respect those people.
“We must also try by all means to always reduce the number of our cattle to prevent overgrazing that may force you from grazing even where you are not allowed,” Nghaamwa said.
A group of farmers from the Oshikoto, Oshana, Omusati and Ohangwena regions complained that they were not allowed to bring live cattle or meat back into Namibia and had to sell them in Angola, which is not profitable.
“Our cattle are surviving very well in Angola, but the problem is when we want to sell them. The trading system of the Angolan market is like they are stealing our cattle because there is no value for products and they only offer what they want or feel like.
“At the border it is easy to get into Angola with cattle from Namibia, but getting back into Namibia with cattle from Angola is difficult, unless you are smuggling them in,” one of the farmers claimed.
In 2013, a meeting held in Angola between Nghaamwa and his two Angolan counterparts, Higino Carneiro of the Cuando Cubango province and the former Cunene province governor, the late António Didalewa, agreed to allow communal farmers in Namibia to graze their livestock in Angola on condition that they were registered.
They suggested that mobile offices would be established along the border on the Angolan side for the registration of Namibian farmers moving into Angola to obtain legal grazing privileges there.
Due to a lack of animal disease control in Angola, the Division of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the ministry of agriculture has introduced strict measures at the border to control cattle movements. This is mainly aimed at preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which is common in Angola.
ILENI NANDJATO
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