The financial relief package announced by the Bank of Namibia to support farmers affected by the Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak has raised questions among informal traders in the 7de Laan settlement in Otjomuise.

They said the outbreak has also disrupted their businesses and livelihoods, worsening the already high cost of living. They are now questioning when the government will extend similar support to vulnerable communities and small-scale traders.

The Bank of Namibia has introduced a financial relief package, known as BID-42, to assist farmers affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

The package includes loan repayment moratoriums ranging from one to 24 months, allowing affected borrowers to redirect their financial resources towards sustaining their farming operations.

However, informal traders who depend on farmers and meat suppliers for their businesses say they are also feeling the economic impact of the outbreak but have yet to receive any form of relief.

Community members in 7de Laan, Otjomuise, said the situation has further compounded the financial difficulties they face amid rising inflation and increasing prices of basic goods.

Sixty-two-year-old Klaas Losper, a meat distributor, wants to know when the government will extend assistance to ordinary traders who also play an important role in supplying informal markets and whose businesses have been affected by the outbreak.

While the relief initiative seeks to protect rural livelihoods and safeguard agriculture's contribution to employment and national food security, informal meat vendors raised concerns that their livelihoods are at risk.

Forty-three-year-old Emgard Ndukireepo, who sells kapana at the Otjomuise shops, said her business has suffered significantly.

 Ndukireepo is the breadwinner for 11 people in her household, who are currently surviving on a disability grant of just N$1.600.

She appealed to the government to consider targeted support for small-scale traders, particularly those operating in informal settlements, who are also bearing the economic consequences of the FMD outbreak.