President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has ordered intensified measures to contain a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the Karasburg Veterinary District, with 127 positive cases confirmed across 15 farms as Government moves to protect Namibia’s livestock industry and prevent further economic losses.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah, addressing the nation on Monday, said the outbreak, confirmed on 23 September 2026, had created uncertainty for farmers, workers and businesses whose livelihoods depend on the livestock and meat industry. She said Government’s immediate priority was to contain the disease, prevent its spread to unaffected herds and restore normal production and trade as quickly and safely as possible.
As of 5 October, veterinary surveillance teams had inspected 29,313 animals across 68 farms, while 20 surveillance teams and 10 roadblocks had been deployed across the //Kharas Region. The President said Cabinet had approved a Critical Containment Response Plan, including the establishment of a containment buffer zone in the Karasburg Veterinary District, repairs to the Namibia-Botswana border fence and the construction of veterinary cordon fencing in high-risk areas along the South African border.
The President acknowledged the financial strain caused by movement restrictions and disruptions to trade, particularly for farmers and businesses servicing loans with financial institutions. She said Government would continue assessing the economic impact of the outbreak and engage relevant stakeholders to prevent the animal health crisis from developing into prolonged financial distress for otherwise viable businesses and farmers.
Namibia is also engaging the European Union and other trading partners to minimise disruptions to meat exports. Nandi-Ndaitwah said Government was engaging the EU over consignments of Namibian meat products produced before the outbreak was confirmed, while similar discussions were underway with other markets. She stressed that Namibia would continue providing verified information and meeting international veterinary requirements to preserve confidence in the country’s meat industry and export reputation.
The President called on livestock owners, traders, transporters, auctioneers and other industry players to strictly observe movement restrictions, cooperate with veterinary officials and maintain accurate livestock identification and movement records. She highlighted the Namibia Livestock Identification and Traceability System as a critical tool for tracking animals, identifying potentially exposed livestock and supporting timely disease-control decisions.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also warned businesses against exploiting the crisis by inflating prices for livestock products, critical materials and emergency supplies. She said the response required cooperation across the entire livestock value chain, while Government would continue strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, traceability and biosecurity to improve Namibia’s preparedness for future outbreaks.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, supported by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, will continue issuing updates on the outbreak. The President urged the public and media to rely on verified information and avoid spreading unconfirmed reports that could create confusion or undermine containment efforts.
“This response requires all hands on deck,” the President said, emphasising that protecting Namibia’s livestock and meat industry was a national responsibility. She called on Namibians to support affected communities and work collectively to contain the outbreak and protect the livelihoods of thousands of people dependent on the sector.
