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September 2026
The Namibian
Chief veterinary officer Dr Kenneth Shoombesaysdisease remains localized in ||Kharas region
Source
“"Preliminary findings through the traceability system and livestock inspection demonstrated that the disease remains localized in the ||Kharas region," chief veterinary officer Dr Kenneth Shoombe says in a public notice.”
Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Kenneth Shoombeissued a statementannouncing partial lifting of FMD restrictions
Source
“In a statement issued by Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Kenneth Shoombe, the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) said the decision follows preliminary traceability and livestock inspection findings showing that the outbreak remains localised in the //Kharas Region.”
Dr Kenneth Shoombeconfirmedremoval of Red Line is not a possibility due to foot-and-mouth disease risk
Source
“The Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Kenneth Shoombe, has confirmed that the removal of the Red Line is still not a possibility, warning that doing so could facilitate the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) into the FMD-free zone and put Namibia's beef export markets at risk.”
Dr Kenneth Shoombewarnedremoving Red Line could have devastating economic consequences for Namibia's beef exports
Source
“Given this, he warned that removing the Red Line could have devastating economic consequences for Namibia, as the disease could spread to cattle in the FMD-free zone, jeopardising beef exports to international markets.”
Chief veterinary officer Dr Kenneth Shoombetold the committee that200,000 to 300,000 uncontrolled cattle pose serious transboundary disease risks
Source
“The country's chief veterinary officer Dr Kenneth Shoombe yesterday told the committee that the 200 000 to 300 000 uncontrolled cattle grazing between the 1 300 km border between northern Namibia and Angola pose serious risks of transboundary diseases, such as the highly infectious FMD and others.”
Dr Kenneth Shoombestatedbuffalo samples tested negative for Foot and Mouth Disease
Source
“The samples taken from the buffalo were sent to the central veterinary laboratory on the 8th June 2026 and tested negative for Foot and Mouth Disease.”
chief veterinary officer within the agriculture ministry Dr Kenneth Shoombemet last week withborder-post stakeholders regarding disinfection wash bay construction
Source
“Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia chief executive Goliath Tujendapi, chief veterinary officer within the agriculture ministry Dr Kenneth Shoombe , and engineers from the Roads Authority last week met with border-post stakeholders, including immigration, regarding the construction of disinfection drive-through wash bays at Noordoewer and Ariamsvlei.”
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has partially lifted restrictions on movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products north of the veterinary cordon fence after livestock traced from an infected farm in the ||Kharas region tested negative for foot-and-mouth disease. The ministry found the outbreak remained localized and identified no transmission risk to areas north of the fence.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has partially lifted restrictions on movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products north of the veterinary cordon fence after livestock traced from an infected farm in the ||Kharas region tested negative for foot-and-mouth disease. The ministry found the outbreak remained localized and identified no transmission risk to areas north of the fence.
The Ministry of Agriculture's Directorate of Veterinary Services reports that foot-and-mouth disease detected in the Karasburg Veterinary District is localized to ||Kharas region, with livestock moved to Otjozondjupa tested negative and no evidence of transmission risk to eight northern regions.
The Ministry of Agriculture has partially lifted Foot-and-Mouth Disease restrictions, allowing movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence. The Directorate of Veterinary Services said preliminary findings show the outbreak remains localised in //Kharas Region, and livestock traced to Otjozondjupa tested negative for FMD.
Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed at a commercial farm in Karasburg has prompted the government to suspend movement, trade, slaughter, imports and exports of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, forcing auctioneers to cancel sales across the country.
A nationwide suspension of livestock movement, trade and slaughtering following Foot-and-Mouth Disease detection in the //Kharas Region has left kapana vendors and families preparing customary events uncertain about cattle slaughter for lobola and funerals. Lawyers representing Affirmative Repositioning's Job Amupanda have demanded clarification from the acting agriculture minister on the scope and legal basis of the restrictions.
The Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed the Red Line veterinary cordon fence cannot be removed due to foot-and-mouth disease endemic in Namibia's northern regions, warning that removal could spread the disease to the FMD-free zone and jeopardise beef exports. He also cited uncontrolled cross-border livestock movement with Angola as a risk factor requiring management.
An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 uncontrolled cattle roaming the Namibia-Angola border annually, slow uptake of northern abattoirs, and lack of alternative grazing areas make removal of the veterinary cordon fence (redline) practically impossible in its current form, the agriculture minister told Parliament. The redline maintains the southern zone's foot-and-mouth disease-free status; its removal would risk compromising this countrywide.
The Directorate of Veterinary Services has lifted restrictions on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals in parts of Ohangwena and Kavango West regions after a buffalo spotted in June tested negative for foot and mouth disease and was euthanised.
Movement restrictions on cloven-hoofed animals and animal products in Oshikunde, Okongo, and Mpungu constituencies have been lifted following a buffalo sighting in May that tested negative for Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
Namibia's N$8-billion annual red meat industry faces serious risk from foot-and-mouth disease spreading from South Africa, prompting authorities to implement biosecurity measures including vehicle disinfection at borders and a ban on South African meat, dairy, and live animals. Industry leaders warn that an outbreak would devastate exports to key markets including the EU, China, and the United States, causing farmer bankruptcies and widespread job losses.