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South Africa has officially lifted its suspension on selected horticultural imports from Namibia, paving the way for the resumption of cross-border trade in key agricultural products, including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, watermelons, pumpkins, and squash.
Announcing the development, Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, confirmed that the temporary trade suspension had inflicted severe financial losses on Namibian farmers—particularly tomato growers—because the banned commodities are highly perishable and time-sensitive.
Zaamwani further noted that the suspension’s effects rippled through other sectors, disrupting grape exports that depend on South African transit routes to reach European markets. This disruption, she said, endangered over 20,000 jobs and shook investor and producer confidence within Namibia’s agricultural industry.
“The suspension had caused financial losses to local farmers, particularly tomato producers, as the affected commodities are highly perishable,” Zaamwani stated. “The temporary ban also disrupted grape exports dependent on South African transit routes to reach European markets, threatening over 20,000 jobs and producer confidence.”
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, the National Plant Protection Organisation of Namibia (NPPONA) had on 12 August 2025 submitted comprehensive technical documentation to its South African counterpart. The submission addressed concerns around pest management, biosecurity, and product safety, which were central to the suspension.
Despite numerous technical consultations between both nations, a final resolution was only reached after high-level intervention involving ministerial and presidential engagement. This diplomatic push ultimately led to the reinstatement of all import permits on 23 October 2025, effectively restoring the trade flow of the affected horticultural products.“As a result, all previously withdrawn permits have been reinstated, and trade in the affected commodities officially resumed on 23 October 2025,” Zaamwani confirmed.
“This outcome demonstrates the robustness of Namibia’s plant health systems and underscores the strength of bilateral cooperation between our two nations.” Meanwhile, Minister Zaamwani also sounded the alarm over a serious outbreak of African Migratory Locusts in the Zambezi Region, particularly impacting Kasaya, Nakabolelwa, Luhonono, Bukalo, Kabbe, Muyako, Masokotwani, and Linyanti. She explained that the floodplains of Muyako and Old Masokotwani, known breeding sites for this locust species, have fueled the rapid escalation of the outbreak, which has now advanced to both the hopper (nymph) and flying stages—making control operations increasingly difficult.
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In response, the Ministry has deployed three ground teams outfitted with Land Cruiser vehicles, mounted sprayers, and handheld mist blowers to conduct pesticide spraying across the affected zones. Zaamwani added that the Ministry is mobilising additional logistical support, drawing vehicles and personnel from the Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Programme for Communal Land Development, but emphasised that the scale of the infestation requires broader national and regional support. “To supplement these efforts, the Ministry has mobilised additional vehicles from the Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Programme for Communal Land Development. However, the scale of the outbreak demands broader support,” Zaamwani said.
