Namibia blocks Botswana livestock
The Directorate of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has announced the immediate restriction on the entry of cloven-hoofed animals and their products from Botswana into Namibia. “This measure follows the confirmation of foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Botswana,” the veterinary public notification 3 of 2026 reads. The outbreak in Botswana was reported through the World Animal Health Information System and in an updated FMD report issued by Botswana's veterinary authority on 4 March 2026. Upon enquiry, the ministry's spokesperson, Megameno Simon Nghipandulwa, confirmed that the restricted products include milk, cheese, meat, and meat products. The restriction is applicable in zones 1, 1a, 2a – 2f, 3a, 3b, 3c, 6a, 6b, 7 and 16, which Nghipandulwa explained include southern border crossings like Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer, as well as all other border crossings with Botswana throughout south and central Namibia up to the veterinary cordon fence, also known as the Red Line.
