OHANGWENA governor Usko Nghaamwa yesterday said he announced the presence foot and mouth disease on Monday to warn farmers.
Nghaamwa was quoted by Nampa saying that there has been another foot and mouth outbreak in 11 villages in the region.
He also announced it on a local radio station, warning people about the alleged fresh outbreaks, especially at the Oshikome village north east of Ohangwena.
Yesterday, he said he meant to warn farmers whose cattle are crossing into Angola that the foot and mouth disease has broken out where they graze their cattle.
“This is just logic that if you have your animals grazing in a foot and mouth disease affected area, they are automatically also affected. And if you bring them back to your area, you bring the disease to your village. Yes, these cattle are affected. That is why I warned the people, ” he stated.
Nghaamwa also said a meeting on the matter will be held at the Okalupalona village near Okongo on the Namibian Angolan border on 18 May this year, which will be attended by Namibia and Angola government officials.
The agriculture ministry has since refuted the reports, saying it was a misunderstanding among the Ohangwena region’s community about a new outbreak.
On Tuesday, The Namibian visited the area and spoke to some of the villagers, who said they were sure that the disease had returned because some of their cattle were having difficulties walking. Other villagers, however, said they had only heard about the new outbreaks on the radio.
Mhundja Haule is from the Okanyandi village, and was one of those who said they heard about the new outbreaks on the radio.
“We are aware of the foot and mouth disease, ” he said, while another villager Selma Johannes said they were certain that the disease had returned.
Johannes appealed to the government to send veterinarians to the area before their cattle start dying.
Nghaamwa said he was concerned about the state of the border between Namibia and Angola.
“We spoke about that, but nothing has been done. We cannot just look on while the border situation is deteriorating, ” he stated.
Speaking at a press conference at the ministry’s offices in Windhoek yesterday, chief state veterinarian Milton Maseke dismissed the claims.
Maseke said Cabinet has instructed the ministry of international relations to spearhead the consultation process regarding the issue of the porous border between Namibia and Angola.
He could not speak for Angola regarding the border fence, but said consultations are taking place.
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