07 Apr 2015

Parliament has been told that meat from Maun could not pass through Namibia into Angola since Ngamiland was a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) infested area.

Answering a question in Parliament on April 1, acting Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao said Namibia did not allow the meat to cross via Mohembo border enroute to Angola when they were still carrying out a risk assessment.

“The risk assessment was delayed for more than one year, but when it finally came it indicated that beef could not pass through an FMD infected area enroute to Namibia and then Angola,” said Mr Molao.

MP for Maun East, Mr Konstantinos Markus had asked the acting assistant minister to explain why the Namibian government refuses Botswana to use her roads to transport meat to Angola, while Botswana allows Namibia to transport her meat to South Africa through Botswana roads.

Mr Molao however explained that Namibia has staff manning the Mohembo-Angola border post to facilitate transit movement. “Should there be an order for meat by Angola from BMC Maun, export will start and transit for the consignment will be facilitated,” he said.

He also said Namibia has allowed Botswana to export beef from Ngamiland initially through the Ngoma border post, which means that meat had to go through Nata and Caprivi into Angola. ENDS