OBSERVER  •  28 OCTOBER 2013 7:09AM  •  1 COMMENT

HARARE – Namibia Agriculture minister John Mutorwa has declared the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free after announcing that the Veterinary Services have cleared the first 1 000 tons consignment of Bone in Beef for export to Zimbabwe.

Mutorwa said the area is technically free of FMD after intensified animal disease surveillance by the Veterinary Services.

The Bone in Beef for export to Zimbabwe will mainly come from farmers currently involved in the communit-based Rangeland and Livestock Management in the NCA.

Zimbabwean ambassador to Namibia Chipo Zindoga said Zimbabwe has already issued permits for the exports to prevent unnecessary delays in exporting the beef.

This is the first time that Namibia exports Bone in Beef from the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) outside Namibia’s borders.

South Africa is the NCA’s only consistent market for boneless beef.

The Zimbabwean ambassador did not shy away from the fact that her country is experiencing sanctions and called on Namibia to export its beef to Zimbabwe.

The 1 000 tonnes quotas will not exceed 50 tonnes per month over a 20-month period.

The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry is leading a business delegation to Zimbabwe to explore trade and investment opportunities.

Mutorwa said that Namibia is working hard to have the NCA declared FMD free and to get international recognition in this regard.