The leader of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement, Dr. Job Amupanda, has expressed disappointment over the government's handling of the red line issue, labelling the Cabinet's decision-making process contradictory and deeply flawed.
Amupanda criticised the government's announcement of the gradual removal of the veterinary cordon fence, commonly known as the Red Line, calling it inconsistent and confusing.
Amupanda questioned the logic of the process, pointing out that the use of the term "feasibility" contradicts a decision that had already been made to gradually remove the veterinary border.
He also expressed concern over the two-year timeline given for the completion of the feasibility study.
"The cabinet has supposedly decided to gradually remove the Red Line. But in the same breath, they are calling for a feasibility study to be conducted. How can you announce a decision and then ask for a study to determine whether the decision is feasible? Which one is it?".
He further referenced a government document detailing the implications of removing the red line.
The document is an investigation into the removal of the redline, with a proposal and possible positive spinoffs that this would
"This is a government document, and this document is a final report dated 7 February 2014. This report is the final report on the consultancy to investigate the implication of a total removal of the veterinary cord inference. What does it mean? There is already a feasibility study that was done from 2014 to today's work, 10 years ago. Anything else that has to do with the red line in the."
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Forestry has acknowledged that a study was conducted about 10 years ago on the complete removal of the Veterinary Cordon Fence.
Ministry spokesperson Jona Musheko did not want to comment on the matter, stating the red line issue is currently contested in court.
He said it is best for the ministry to refrain from further comments until the case is concluded.