HUNDREDS of motorists were left fuming in frustration at the Oshivelo veterinary checkpoint on Sunday after they encountered a long and slow-moving queue.
The problem was blamed on scores of motorists driving almost at the same time after spending the weekend in the North. Many had driven to attend the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair and the Olufuko Cultural Festival.
When The Namibian visited the checkpoint on Sunday, the vehicle queue stretched for 40 kilometres.
The outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the northern communal regions in early May this year resulted in control measures being instituted. These include the spraying of vehicles and induviduals stepping on a chemical solution to control the spread of the disease.
Many motorists took to social media networks to express disappointment over the delay, calling it ‘a horrible experience’.
People queued for up to seven hours before finally passing the checkpoint where officials inspected all the vehicles.
However, when motorists reached the checkpoint the inspection took about five minutes, leaving many asking where the delay was.
Oshikoto regional commander Anna-marrie Nainda said it was unfortunate that motorists had to wait for hours saying the delay was caused by the fact that the spraying of cars was being done at one point.
“Due to the abnormality of the traffic flow and considering that each vehicle had to be sprayed, this slowed down progress,” she said.
Officials were later forced to open another exit close to the weighbridge for cars coming from the south to speed up the exercise.
Nainda also blamed the slow movement on unruly drivers who tried to jump the queue.
She said they had to get reinforcements from Tsintsabis, King Nehale and Tsumeb police stations to contain the crowd.
Nainda said she could not say why there was only one spraying point, saying such questions should be directed to the veterinary officers.
State veterinarian Kaino David told The Namibian on Sunday night that travellers caused the delay themselves because they did not want to obey orders and refused to queue in an orderly manner.
David, who was also at Oshivelo to help control the situation, said some of the drivers didn’t want to wait patiently for their turn to proceed, but instead drove away from the queue on the gravel road to both sides of the main road and made it difficult for the officials to work.
She also said many people, especially those who were using public transport as well as those holding senior positions in society, did not want to get off their vehicles and follow control procedures.
Deputy chief veterinary officer John Shoopala said the crisis was a lesson for them and they will reorganise themselves better now.
He said they plan to put up bathing facilities, where vehicles have to drive through instead of being sprayed individually.
The veterinarian denied they had run out of washing soda, saying they had enough supplies at all points countrywide.
Shoopala said they still do not know when the FMD restrictions will be lifted up, because three cases were reported in July and were confirmed through laboratory tests.
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