25 Aug 2024

The Namibian parliamentary standing committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security, visit symbolises the cordial relationship that the two countries continue to enjoy, says Good Hope District Council chairperson, Mr Fankie Motsaathebe.

In an interview after the tour of the Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination and Testing Centre by Namibian officials on Thursday, Mr Motsaathebe said the two countries had a lot in common particularly in the agricultural sector. 

He said the livelihood of Botswana and Namibia relied heavily on livestock production hence the visit was well fitting.  

Since the two countries shared not only the border but common values and beliefs, he further said the visit afforded the Namibians’ an opportunity to learn new things especially in the livestock industry to improve their herd. 

“Most of the exports from Namibia pass through our borders especially the Ramatlabama border through the Trans-Kalahari Corridor going to South Africa or the rest of the world,” he said. 

For his part, head of the Namibian delegation, Mr Levi Katoma, who is also chairperson of Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security concurred with Mr Motsaathebe that the two countries had more similarities in their way of life, adding that just like in Botswana, most of the Namibians practiced communal farming. 

Mr Katoma said they too had a programme where government bought good quality bulls for reselling purposes.

He said they also had a programme, similar to the artificial insemination programme in Botswana.

“In Namibia, a farmer pays five per cent of the total amount of the bull so that they can go and improve the quality and genes of their livestock,” he said. 

He said they mostly kept the local Nguni breed but had since started to cross it with other breeds that yield more meat and that gave farmers a good market price when sold.  The Namibian parliamentary standing committee on Foreign Affairs was in the country for a five-day benchmarking trip. ends