Opposition against red line removal continues

ELLANIE SMIT WINDHOEKThe loss of the official disease-free status through the inactivation or removal of the veterinary cordon fence (VCF) – also known as the red line – will have dire consequences for the Namibian livestock sector and Namibia at large.This according to the Meat Board of Namibia, which added that for the area north of the VCF to also obtain disease-free status, the porous border with Angola and the regular movement of livestock across this border will have to be permanently stopped.“If there is livestock movement across this border, the VCF will have to stay intact to maintain official disease status and access to lucrative livestock and meat export markets.”The VCF is used as an animal disease control measure against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and bovine lung sickness (CBPP).According to the Meat Board, the biggest and most costly animal disease outbreak ever experienced in Namibia occurred between 1961 and 1964 when FMD was diagnosed in the eastern Windhoek district.“This outbreak - which caused immeasurable economic losses to the country - should serve as a reminder of what can be expected should another outbreak occur in the FMD-free zone south of the VCF.”FMD is caused by a virus carried by the African buffalo, the board said. Contact between cattle and buffalo is the most common method the virus is spread.FMD can also be spread by animal products such as meat, milk, hides and skins. The free movement of buffalo in the Zambezi and Kavango East regions as well as the porous border with Angola leads to regular contact between these animals, resulting in regular FMD outbreaks.Loss of incomeThe World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recognises the area south of the VCF as free from FMD without vaccination, free from CBPP as well as free from small ruminant pest (PPR).This official status enables Namibia to trade in meat with some of the world’s most lucrative markets. The VCF and the control across this line play a critical role in obtaining and maintaining this disease-free status.An outbreak of diseases like FMD south of the VCF will lead to immediate suspension of this status. In turn, this will result in significant loss of income from lucrative markets such as the European Union.“This will mean no more meat or weaner exports as well as the immediate collapse of the N$6.3 billion livestock sector and N$985 million meat-processing subsector which has developed over several years,” the Meat Board said.Historically, the export of livestock has contributed two-thirds of agricultural exports by value. Livestock farming remains an important foreign exchange earner for Namibia.

Opposition against red line removal continues

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-06

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Opposition against red line removal continues

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-06

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