Namibia: FMD Fence Construction Begins in ||kharas

What the report says

Construction has begun on a veterinary cordon fence along the Orange River in Namibia’s ||Kharas region as authorities step up efforts to contain a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, according to AllAfrica’s report from The Namibian. Agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform minister Inge Zaamwani said the area has become a focal point for the disease since an outbreak last month, with 17 farms affected as of Friday.

Zaamwani said the fence is expected to be finished within four months. She also said work on a separate containment-zone fence should start this week after materials are delivered. The ministry has previously said it may need about N$200 million to strengthen containment measures, including N$47 million for a proposed 290km disease-control fence running from Ariamsvlei through Karasburg to Ai-Ais.

The minister made the remarks during a two-day visit to the Karasburg Veterinary District, where she inspected high-risk areas, roadblocks, the veterinary services office and facilities for vaccination teams. She also met affected farmers to discuss concerns and response steps. The visit included ||Kharas governor Dawid Gertze and Karasburg East councillor James Hawanga.

The report says officials are enforcing livestock movement restrictions and preparing for vaccination, while Zaamwani warned that controls must remain strict day and night. More broadly, veterinary cordon fences are used in southern Africa to help limit the spread of animal diseases by separating affected and unaffected areas.