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

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.

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.

“Only farm owners are receiving assistance from government. My question is when will small traders from the community and informal markets receive any assistance from government? It is very difficult because everything is expensive, and that was the only source of income for us. Meatco meat is so expensive. We really need assistance so that we can survive with all these prices that are increasing daily.”

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

She sells meat and sausages, but the outbreak has disrupted her supply, while the meat that remains available has become too expensive for her to purchase and resell profitably.

Ndukireepo said she is the breadwinner for 11 people in her household, who are currently surviving on a disability grant of just N$1,600.

Disheartened by the situation, Ndukireepo added that her small business previously provided her family with a means to survive and fight poverty.

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.