A delegation from the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) and its affiliate the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) recently attended a round table conference hosted by the Trust in Animals and Food Safety (TAFS) Forum and the Swiss embassy, as well as the Octavoscene FMD Symposium in Pretoria, South Africa.
Head of the local foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) Support Fund, Dr Ingrid Henckert-Weissnar says the meetings were insightful. The other delegates were Jako van Wyk, the chairperson of the LPO and his deputy Dawie Kok and a member of NAU.
The two events came amid the foot-and-mouth scourge that threatens Namibia’s FMD-free status south of the veterinary cordon fence.
“We discussed how the virus is spreading in South Africa and its knock-on effects for neighbouring countries, with a strong focus on controlling the narrative, using data to guide planning, resolving fragmentation and improving communication,” says Henckert-Weissnar.
Delegates concluded that successful regional FMD management depends on stronger public-private partnerships, improved data sharing within and between countries, honest and depoliticised communication, the establishment of a joint SADC vaccine bank, and the possibility of a vaccinated buffer zone along the South Africa-Namibia border.
The FMD symposium hosted by Octavoscene under the theme: ‘Science, strategy and a stark reminder’, featured leading international experts sharing lessons and innovations in FMD control.
Henckert-Weissnar says the highlights included updates on global FMD virus tracking, Germany’s rapid and successful containment of its 2025 outbreak, new research on meat safety in recovered cattle as well as South Africa’s intensified response programme.
According to NAU, South Africa has vaccinated more than eight million cattle as part of broader disease management efforts.
Henckert-Weissnar says the national FMD Task Force and FMD Support Fund have facilitated the industry to stand shoulder to shoulder with the directorate of veterinary services and the government from the start.
“That’s a genuine credit to our government, our farmers’ unions and our industry,” she says, adding that Namibia must guard against “prevention fatigue”.
More than N$12 million has been pledged in the national preparedness and biosecurity against FMD, with an ultimate goal of raising N$50 million from the private sector and agricultural partners to support government veterinary services.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na
