The National Assembly has approved a report calling, among others, for the amendment of the 1896 Redline, which restricts the marketing of cattle from the Northern Communal Areas.

This recommendation comes after the Standing Committee on Economic and Public Administration received a petition from the Lisha Empowerment and Development Organisation in November of last year to review marketing policies affecting farmers north of the Red Line.

The Redline, also known as the Veterinary Cordon Fence, has made it difficult for farmers in the northern border regions to sell their cattle to markets in the south because of concerns about diseases like foot and mouth and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.

The restriction has put farmers in the Northern Communal Areas at a disadvantage, while over 60% of Namibia's cattle are raised in these areas.

These farmers are excluded from the profitable European Union market.

The petition to the parliamentary standing committee, in addition to their call for a relook at the redline policy, raises further concerns about poor quarantine facilities, including the Omutambo Mraowe Farm, which has been out of service for more than 10 years.

The National Assembly's approval of the report, according to Professor Job Amupanda, means the Ministry of Agriculture must act within the next three months to remove the Redline. 

A closer look at the report, however, recommended various actions to allow NCA farmers to market their livestock south of the fence.

This report, based on public consultations, meetings, and visits, highlights key problems affecting the livestock sector in the Northern Communal Areas.

Deputy Prime Minister Natangwe Ithete, in the report that he compiled as the chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee, points out important issues that need immediate action to help create a strong and sustainable livestock industry.

Meanwhile, Professor Amupanda, a strong proponent of the removal of the Red Line and an AR Member of Parliament, has welcomed the development.

Now, with parliament approving a report calling for the amendment of the law to allow Northern Communal Farmers access to the lucrative markets which farmers south of the redline enjoy, Amupanda feels emboldened, as it strengthened his call for the removal of the redline.

The committee recommends that quarantine and abattoir facilities be upgraded and more such avenues be created in the NCAs, and the creation of auction pens and slaughterhouses. 

The report further calls for free movement of livestock during periods without foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks while still enforcing strict measures to avoid potential spread of diseases.

The committee wants to see these recommendations implemented within 30 days of the adoption of its report in the National Assembly.

Amupanda, however, lost his legal battle against the Red Line in the High Court this week.