South African animal health experts are due in Namibia on 9 October 2026 for talks on whether trade in Namibian livestock at auction can resume, after sales were suspended following last month’s outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).
Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani said Namibia is in talks with South African authorities on the protocols needed to restart auction trade, including the sale of animals destined for the South African market. Zaamwani told Parliament on 6 October 2026 that South African experts are due in Namibia on 9 October 2026 for a meeting.
She said she has also spoken to her South African counterpart about reopening auction trade between the two countries. “I spoke to my counterpart in South Africa about the possibility of us resuming auction trading for the market of South Africa. There are certain protocols that we have to put in place,” noted Zaamwani.
Technical officials from both countries held an online meeting on 6 October 2026 to discuss the procedures needed to speed up the resumption of auctions. Zaamwani said the government will first focus on containing the outbreak in the Karasburg district before reopening livestock trade in stages. She said, “Once we have done an assessment and we are confident that we have contained the outbreak within that area, then we will look at gradually reopening the trading.”
Some trade has already resumed under specific conditions, she said, covering animals that were already in auction kraals and quarantine facilities when the restrictions took effect. Zaamwani also gave a picture of the testing under way. Laboratory tests have so far been conducted on 2 910 cattle, 22 289 sheep, 4 114 goats and nine pigs, more than 29 000 animals in all. Clinical signs of the disease have been observed in 127 cattle, 50 sheep, one goat and one pig, a total of 179 animals.
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) President and Member of Parliament McHenry Venaani raised concerns about what the suspension means for farmers. He said they depend on auctions for the income they use to pay workers, cover their children’s school expenses and buy animal feed and other necessities.
