Minister of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani says investigations are under way to determine the origin of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.
She said samples had been sent to a laboratory in Botswana to identify the virus strain and establish its possible source.
Delivering a ministerial address this afternoon, Zaamwani said Namibia had previously been divided into two main veterinary zones. However, the outbreak had prompted the government to establish an additional infected zone to protect unaffected areas.
She said construction of a new veterinary fence had begun after procurement delays caused by a legal challenge.
The minister said the government was not yet declaring a state of emergency, as the immediate priority remained containing the outbreak within the affected Karasburg Veterinary District.
“Whether compensation or no compensation, first we have to give notice to the affected farmers, and the letters are ready. I am about to sign them off. It is a process, and you must make sure that you have all your ducks in a row before you send a letter that will then be challenged. So, please, honourable members, we are running a country, and we do not run a country publicly. There are certain things that have to be done in an orderly manner,” Zaamwani said.
Several Members of Parliament contributed to the debate.
AR leader Professor Job Amupanda asked about the status of the free zone and whether it had now been declared an infected or protected zone.
IPC MP Michael Mulunga questioned why the government was appealing to the public for funds to respond to an emergency when the law provides for an FMD outbreak to be declared a state of emergency.
PDM leader McHenry Venaani asked whether reports were true that FMD had been detected in July and that the Directorate of Veterinary Services had failed to act.
Responding to concerns that the government had known about the outbreak months earlier, Zaamwani rejected the claim, saying veterinary teams had detected the infection through routine surveillance.
She also defended the ministry’s preparedness, saying Namibia had an emergency-response plan and veterinary teams already operating in the field.
Zaamwani urged MPs to recognise the work of veterinary officials rather than criticising the government only when outbreaks occur.