Windhoek
The almost unbelievable and unwanted disaster of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) striking the Namibian livestock industry in Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions after more than 45 years of no outbreaks, has once again put the spotlight on the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF).
The most feared animal disease struck despite all the control measures and contingency planning the veterinary services, the livestock industry and other stakeholders have been putting in place, and after the policy for the eradication of transboundary animal diseases in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) of Namibia as well its implementation strategies were approved by Cabinet. The outbreak is under control after a furious battle by Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) and all role players and farmers, but the incidents have once again raised the question whether Namibia will be able to achieve its FMD free status as per the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) requirements by the end of this year.
Not after the latest outbreaks, seems to be the answer, as the NCAs have not yet been declared FMD free by the OIE. Apart from the VCF, dividing Namibia in two, a fence also exist between Namibia and Botswana. The Zambezi region is further separated from the rest of the NCAs as its veterinary health status differs from that of the rest of the NCAs.The Zambezi region is known as the “red zone” while the rest of the NCAs is classified as the “green zone.” The area south of the VCF is called the “white zone, which is animal free.
The government has approved more than N$51 million to eventually erect animal health fences between Namibia, Angola and Botswana, but this is not going to happen overnight. It envisages transforming the green zone into a white zone but it will be very difficult for the Zambezi region to be classified as a white zone as buffalo –which often carry FMD – move freely in this area.
The easiest method to achieve this would be to erect the fences to prevent animals moving between the countries, but it is not feasible as residents close to the Namibian- Angolan border are used to moving their livestock across the border in search of better grazing land in Angola and these animals could freely return to Namibia.
The government has decided upon the more difficult option of gaining FMD free status by means of management practices. This means that the DVS will insert ear tags on all 1.5 million cattle in the NCAs to monitor them. More DVS officials will have to be employed while more laboratories will have to be established in the NCAs. Meatco operates two abattoirs in the NCAs, one in Oshakati and one in Katima Mlilo. The current animal health status hampers their operation since Meatco cannot export beef from this area to international markets.
According to the Transboundary Animal Disease Eradication Policy, the strategy is to erect those fences within the next two financial years. More important, however, is that the sooner he health status of Namibia’s cattle north of the VCF changes, the better it will be for producers, the livestock industry and the country as a whole.