Africa-Press – Namibia. A 2014 REPORT commissioned by the government to investigate the implications of completely removing the veterinary cordon fence, known as the redline, concluded that the country stands to benefit if the historic fence is removed.
This contradicts the Meat Board of Namibia and other stakeholders’ long-held position that the removal of the redline could have “catastrophic consequences” for the meat industry, as it could disrupt already established “lucrative regional and international markets”, collapse the beef industry, and result in massive job losses.
Extracts of a report titled ‘Consultancy to Investigate the Implications of a Total Removal of the Veterinary Cordon Fence [VCF]’, which was submitted to Cabinet in 2014 were widely circulated by Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda last week.
The extracts reveal the pros and cons of removing the redline.
The report stated it would be beneficial if the government completely removed the redline, as it would ensure that northern communal farmers, who have more than 1,6 million cattle, about 700 000 goats and 430 000 sheep, also access lucrative domestic, regional and international markets.
The annual contribution of the agricultural sector to the country’s gross domestic product could also increase from less than 6% to about 20% with the complete removal of the redline.
The complete removal of the redline would also increase job opportunities and improve animal sales by farmers in the northern communal areas.
Yesterday, minister of agriculture, water and land reform Calle Schlettwein refused to comment on the report or clarify what the government has done to implement the recommendations of the second national land conference regarding the removal of the veterinary cordon fence (redline).
He said the matter is a subject of an ongoing court challenge.
Schlettwein, the government, attorney general Festus Mbandeka and directorate of veterinary services officer Hango Nambinga have joined forces in the High Court to fight Amupanda’s bid to have the redline declared unconstitutional and completely removed.
Amupanda wants the High Court to order the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform to remove the historic fence within 90 days.
Last week, the Meat Board of Namibia joined Schlettwein and others in opposing Amupanda’s bid due to its strategic position in the marketing of livestock in Namibia.
Paul Strydom, the chief executive officer of the Meat Board of Namibia, in an affidavit filed in the High Court last week, said the redline should be maintained at all costs, as Namibia’s meat industry, estimated to be worth about N$7,2 billion, depends on it for survival.
Strydom said by removing the redline completely, Namibia would be contravening international disease regulations, which could curtail the country’s exports to lucrative markets.
“It is absolutely imperative for the survival of the Namibian livestock industry that the VCF is kept in place and adequately maintained at all times,” Strydom said.
BACKGROUND
The redline was erected in the 1890s, during the German colonisation of South West Africa, to control infectious diseases among livestock. It was later used by the South African apartheid regime to control the north-south movement of indigenous people and their livestock.
After independence, the government has made several promises to address the issue of the redline, but nothing has materialised to date.
Three possible solutions to the redline have been under consideration over the years: the gradual removal of the redline, which would require a physical border to be built between Namibia and Angola, the translocation of the fence to the Namibian border with Angola, and the creation of foot-and-mouth disease and lung disease-free zones within 30 km either side of the Namibia-Angola border, in line with World Organisation for Animal Health standards.
