NC debates bill on animal diseases

THE Ministry of Agriculture and farmers’ associations have been urged to train communal farmers in the basics of treating minor animal diseases.

The appeal was made by Henock Kankoshi, the regional councillor for Onyaanya constituency, in the National Council yesterday. The Swapo MP said because there were only a few veterinarians in the rural areas, it would be good if communal farmers had some knowledge about animal diseases.Kankoshi was speaking during debate on the second reading of the Animal Diseases and Parasites Amendment Bill.Swapo’s Kilus Nguvauva expressed concern about an article in the Bill which stipulates that a search warrant is needed before searching the property of anybody suspected of spreading animal disease.Nguvauva, who is also the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, said this amendment would make it more difficult to trace animals smuggled into Namibia.He said the smuggling of livestock from neighbouring Botswana was common in the Omaheke Region, especially in the Otjombinde and Aminuis constituencies.He said while the amendment provided for stiffer sentences, it would be difficult to bring all cases before court, given the backlog of unresolved court cases there was at the moment.The Swapo MP said because there were only a few veterinarians in the rural areas, it would be good if communal farmers had some knowledge about animal diseases.Kankoshi was speaking during debate on the second reading of the Animal Diseases and Parasites Amendment Bill.Swapo’s Kilus Nguvauva expressed concern about an article in the Bill which stipulates that a search warrant is needed before searching the property of anybody suspected of spreading animal disease.Nguvauva, who is also the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, said this amendment would make it more difficult to trace animals smuggled into Namibia.He said the smuggling of livestock from neighbouring Botswana was common in the Omaheke Region, especially in the Otjombinde and Aminuis constituencies.He said while the amendment provided for stiffer sentences, it would be difficult to bring all cases before court, given the backlog of unresolved court cases there was at the moment.