The Meatco Board has defied a Cabinet directive that was issued in July last year by terminating the contract of its CEO, Mwilima Mushokabanji, and appointing an acting CEO, Patrick Liebenberg.

In a directive issued last July, Cabinet directed the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises to ensure that the board retract the notice of termination of the contract of Mushokabanji.

Board Chairperson Sakaria Nghikembua on Friday wrote to Mushokabanji informing him that his last day of work will be January 31, with Liebenberg set to assume the office on February 1st in an acting capacity. 

Mushokabanji informed nbc News that his contract was supposed to end on January 31. "I have been officially informed by the board, and I am leaving the organisation. The letter you received is authentic," he said.

Nghikembua said that while he cannot speak on behalf of Cabinet, the board had already decided that it would not extend the current CEO's term on July 18 last year and subsequently informed him of its decision the next day.

He said the board acted within its mandate and has made provision for an acting CEO.