Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani on Friday and Saturday inspected Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) control operations in the Karasburg Veterinary District, including roadblocks, vaccination preparations and planned fencing along the Orange River.
During the two-day visit, Zaamwani assessed the readiness of teams at roadblocks at key exits and junctions, where they inspect and disinfect vehicles to help contain the outbreak.
“I am glad I went on site. I am happy with what I saw,” Zaamwani said, praising staff for working around the clock and treating travellers respectfully.
She acknowledged that queues could cause delays during peak periods, but said travellers had generally understood the need for the controls.
Zaamwani said the response teams would be strengthened. The Karasburg constituency councillor is being asked to help identify young people for temporary roles supporting operations.
She also stressed that inspections and other controls must continue at night, and commended cooperation among the government agencies staffing the roadblocks.
On Saturday, Zaamwani, //Kharas Regional Governor Dawid Gertze and Karasburg East Constituency Councillor James Hawanga visited high-risk areas along the Orange River, from Homerevier to Velloorsdrift.
Construction of a veterinary cordon fence on farms along the river has begun and, Zaamwani said, is expected to take four months.
Work on a containment zone fence is expected to start this week, following the delivery of materials and discussions with affected farmers are nearing completion, the minister said.
The delegation also travelled through the outbreak epicentre to Karasburg, where Zaamwani met representatives of affected farmers to discuss concerns and agree on immediate areas of cooperation.
At the Directorate of Veterinary Services office in Karasburg, she reviewed operational readiness and available supplies. She also visited a campsite for vaccination teams, where most teams had already arrived.
Vaccination is expected to begin once relevant stakeholders agree on schedules. The Ministry did not provide a start date.
Zaamwani thanked staff from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, the Namibian Police Force, the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia and volunteers for their work.
The minister also thanked farmers and communities along the Noordoewer, Grünau, Warmbad and Karasburg corridor to Keetmanshoop for their cooperation.
The minister urged livestock owners to follow animal-movement restrictions, cooperate with veterinary officials, and promptly report suspected cases.
On September 22, 2026, routine surveillance at a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District detected clinical cases of the SAT1 FMD strain.
This was highly critical because the area was previously recognised as an FMD-free zone where vaccination is not practised, marking the first such incursion into this commercial zone in 60 years. As of last week, cases have risen to 127 across 15 farms.
A separate outbreak has concurrently been confirmed at Kalala Island in the Kabbe constituency in the Zambezi region. All 12 samples collected by veterinary services tested positive for the virus.
The government has suspended the movement of all cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs) and their raw products within the affected regions. Livestock auctions, informal markets, and slaughtering at social events have also been halted.
-ohembapu@nepc.com.na
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