Fate of red line stuck between Ueitele and parliament

The future of the veterinary cordon fence rests between two branches of government – the judiciary, where Windhoek High Court judge Shafimana Ueitele is set to deliver judgment today on its removal, and the legislature, which has already approved a report recommending its restructuring.Ueitele is scheduled to deliver his ruling this morning in a case brought by activist Job Amupanda, who is petitioning the court to order the government to dismantle the red line.Meanwhile, ahead of today&#039;s judgment, parliament has approved a report by its standing committee on economics and public administration, which calls for modifications of the fence to allow farmers north of it to transport livestock and meat products to markets south of the red line during disease-free periods.Currently, red meat, even for domestic consumption, is not permitted to cross the red line into the southern parts of the country. The meat is confiscated and destroyed by veterinary officials without prior testing for possible infections.According to parliamentary rules, once the National Assembly accepts recommendations from a standing committee – with or without amendments – the relevant ministry, in this case, the agriculture ministry, must comply within three months.The committee, chaired by Natangwe Ithete before his recent appointment as minister of industrialisation, mines and energy, has recommended amending the regulatory framework governing the fence, which would allow the free movement of livestock and animal products during periods without active foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks while maintaining necessary disease control measures."Currently, mandatory quarantine procedures and inadequate quarantine facilities place an undue burden on farmers, limiting their market access and affecting their livelihoods," the report states."Therefore, during non-outbreak periods, cattle should be allowed to move freely, provided that basic health certifications or recent veterinary checks are obtained. This should be accompanied by a robust traceability system and temporary health checkpoints along key routes to monitor for any signs of foot-and-mouth disease, as is done south of the red line."It further suggests that should an outbreak occur, strict quarantine measures be reinstated promptly, along with continued investment in quarantine facilities to ensure swift and effective responses. "This balanced approach supports the economic viability of the livestock sector while maintaining necessary public health safeguards," the report adds.At the expense of manyA key finding of the committee was that the red line was historically designed to benefit a minority at the expense of the majority of Namibians under the guise of controlling FMD. The committee investigated the red line&#039;s devastating consequences on farmers in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country after receiving a petition from the Lisha Empowerment and Development Organisation. The petition called for the revival of livestock markets for northern communal farmers.Following visits to affected regions, the committee urged government to negotiate with Zambia to open its borders for cattle trading with Namibian farmers. It also noted that there are over 2.5 million cattle north of the red line compared to 1.3 million in the southern regions. Due to the restrictions on livestock exports from north of the line, the committee proposed establishing physical border movements for cattle or considering zoning the northern communal areas into disease-free compartments.Additionally, the report highlights that the government has recently secured market access for livestock exports to Qatar, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana. However, poor management and inadequate maintenance of crucial government infrastructure –including quarantine farms, camps, facilities, crush pens, auction pens and abattoirs – remain matters of grave concern.Veterinary officials also expressed concerns over Namibia’s porous border with Angola, as livestock often mix with unvaccinated animals, increasing the risk of disease transmission. The report suggests that constructing a canal between Namibia and Angola could help control livestock movement and reduce this risk.jemima@nmh-hub.com.na

Fate of red line stuck between Ueitele and parliament

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-21

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Fate of red line stuck between Ueitele and parliament

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-21

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