The Zambezi Regional Council is ready to host the 34th Independence Celebration for the first time since independence.

Zambezi Governor, Alufea Sampofu, says all logistics have been put in place, and the established Regional Preparatory Committee is hard at work to ensure that come March 21st, it's all systems go.

The Zambezi Regional Council is ready to host about 10,000 people at the Katima Mulilo Sports Complex, and Sampofu is looking forward to hosting the guests.

An interim board of directors has been appointed to assist with the refinement and implementation of MeatCo's strategies.

In a media statement, the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises said the board is at an advanced stage of developing an operational turnaround strategy, which is expected to be finalised before the end of this calendar year.

The appointment of the MeatCo interim board was one of the Cabinet resolutions regarding the future of the corporation, which has taken medium- and long-term strategies.

Employees of MeatCo staged a demonstration demanding improved conditions of employment.

Among others, workers are demanding a 14% salary increment and housing allowances to be adjusted to N$1,000.The employees protest follows protracted negotiations between workers' representatives, NAFAU, and MeatCo.

The Meat Corporation of Namibia (MeatCo) is on its knees and calling for intervention to save its market share.

Chief Executive Officer Mwilima Mushokobanji says the state-owned entity has been grappling with a massive fall in its market share owing to the underutilization of its abattoirs.

Mushokobanji revealed this to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration during a consultative meeting with the management of the parastatal.

The Meatco co-opted board member Shiwana Ndeunyema says the meat corporation is struggling to produce sufficient meat to ensure increased profits.

Ndeunyema addressed the opening ceremony of Meatco's 'Meat Markets Africa' shop at Kuisebmond in Walvis Bay.

The state-owned enterprise Meatco is a meat-processing and meat-marketing entity that serves niche markets locally and internationally with premium quality products.

The Black Business Leadership Network of Namibia (BBLNN) is against the idea of closing down the Meat Corporation of Namibia (MeatCo), citing favoritism of white-owned businesses and a flawed constitution.

This, the BBLNN states, is threatening the country's struggling economic security and national unity.

The Livestock Producers Organization has expressed dismay at media reports accusing "white commercial farmers" of wanting to see the demise of MeatCo.

The organization has called for an urgent investigation into these allegations.

The Livestock Producers Organisation is an affiliate member of the Namibia Agricultural Union, which is considered the country's white-dominated farmers union.

Meatco will construct an auction kraal at Eiseb 10 for farmers in the area.

This was revealed by the company's Chief Executive Officer, Mwilima Mushokobanji, who is on a familiarization visit to Eiseb Block and Gam areas to meet with farmers.

The auction kraal, worth N$900,000, is expected to be completed in two months.

Eiseb and Gam have the best quality livestock, according to Mushokobanji, with international market potential.

He stated that farmers should no longer travel long distances to sell their cattle.

MeatCo says it has introduced a number of reforms and restructuring to remain afloat, despite natural calamities which affected the livestock sector.

Its Chief Executive Officer Mwilima Mushokobanji was responding to a recent remark by Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Minister Carl Schleittwein who described the state-owned meat processing and marketing entity as being in an ICU.

Schlettwein made this remark during his staff address in Windhoek.

Inadequate markets for livestock in the Northern Communal Areas still pose a serious challenge to farmers within the Red Line.

The Namibian National Farmers Union's Executive Officer, Kuniberth Shamathe, says weaner buyers are offering low prices to producers across the country.

A lack of adequate abattoirs in the NCA is one of the hindrances denying farmers adequate access to markets.

The only operating meat processor is the Katima Mulilo abattoir, says Shamathe, who appealed for MeatCo to upgrade more abattoirs such as Rundu, Oshakati, and Opuwo.