02/11/2026
With an estimated N$151 million in livestock sales at risk every week, Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) has become one of the most serious economic threats Namibia has faced in decades. Bank Windhoek responded by bringing the country's key industry players together at the 2026 Bank Windhoek Agricultural Series, held at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek on Friday, 30 October 2026, under the theme "Protecting Livestock, Preserving Livelihoods: A United Response to Foot-and-Mouth Disease".
Speakers included Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Kenneth Shoombe; Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) President Thinus Pretorius; Jako van Wyk, Vice-Chairperson of the Ministerial FMD Task Force; Hon. Kealeboga Patrick Gaebuse of Botswana's Charles Hill District; and, virtually from Switzerland, Patrik Buholzer, Co-CEO of SAFOSO. FMD Support Fund Chair Medmillan Handura joined the panel discussion.