The Namibian Police in the Zambezi Region have advised Meatco to beef up security at its Kopano Quarantine Camp, where stock theft is becoming rife at the government facility.
The Meat Corporation of Namibia has 900 cattle quarantined there.
Multiple cases of stock theft have been reported at the facility over the past three weeks, where about 12 camps are home to Meatco cattle.
Farmers in the Kunene and Omusati regions say non-functional abattoirs and poor livestock infrastructure are primary obstacles to accessing a profitable market.
This issue surfaced during the ongoing oversight visits by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs).
The visits follow a 2022 petition to the National Assembly from Lisha Empowerment and Development, urging the revival of the livestock market in the NCAs and parliamentary intervention to address the sector's severe underdevelopment.
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.
