WINDHOEK, Oct. 30 — Namibia has deployed emergency teams to combat a new outbreak of African migratory locusts in the country’s northeastern Zambezi Region, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani said Wednesday. The outbreak, affecting about eight constituencies, has reached both the hopper and flying stages, making control efforts more complex, Zaamwani told lawmakers. According to the minister, three ground teams have been dispatched, equipped with vehicles, mounted sprayers, and mist blowers to conduct spraying operations in the affected zones. Additional vehicles have been mobilized from other directorates to strengthen the response, she said. “The scale of the outbreak demands broader support,” Zaamwani said, calling on government institutions, local authorities, the private sector, and communities to join hands in the emergency response. Zaamwani said the frequent occurrence of locust outbreaks in Namibia underscores the need for vigilance, preparedness, and collaboration to protect agricultural production in the region. The Zambezi Region, characterized by floodplains that serve as breeding grounds for migratory locusts, has experienced several infestations in recent years due to changing rainfall patterns and favorable environmental conditions.
Xinhua
