Namibia’s Meatco to address animal welfare concerns amid CEO transition

NAMIBIA – In its latest annual integrated report for 2023/2024, Meatco, a Namibian meat-processing and meat-marketing entity highlighted the importance of monitoring animal welfare from the farm to the abattoir to prevent stress or injuries that could affect the quality of beef.

The welfare of animals delivered to Meatco remains a key focus in the certification process for Namibian beef, which is exported both locally and internationally.

The company revealed that several issues were still being recorded at the animal receiving point, with 37 clinically ill cattle delivered and 294 sent back to their farms of origin due to various concerns.

Post-mortem examinations found more than 100 cases of measles, prompting the company to call for improved hygiene at the farm level and increased education for producers to prevent the spread of this zoonotic disease.

Despite these challenges, the report indicated that microbiological compliance at the abattoir remained consistently high, with scores ranging between 97% and 100%.

Out of 128 production days and 132 tests conducted, 12 samples tested positive for contaminants, which Meatco said demonstrated strong hygiene standards despite the aging infrastructure of its facilities.

Meat quality and compliance

Meatco emphasized that its marketing, sales, logistics, and compliance teams play a crucial role in overseeing meat production to ensure high-quality beef is sold in profitable markets.

The company stated that cooperation between stakeholders is essential in maintaining quality and safety throughout the value chain, rather than treating compliance as the responsibility of a single department.

To enhance these standards, Meatco said it continues to engage with all stakeholders and keep communication open to address evolving market conditions and environmental challenges such as drought.

With disruptions in the industry becoming increasingly common, the compliance division plans to adapt and strengthen its capacity to meet business performance targets despite changing conditions.

CEO transition at Meatco

Earlier this year, Meatco’s board decided not to extend the contract of its CEO, Mwilima Mushokabanji, and has since launched a search for a new leader.

The company appointed Patrick Liebenberg as acting CEO for six months or until a permanent replacement is found.

Meatco initially advertised the CEO position but later withdrew the vacancy, raising questions about the hiring process as Mushokabanji’s contract is set to expire at the end of January.

Liebenberg, who has been overseeing livestock procurement and production, is set to assume his acting role starting February 1.

Board chairperson Sakaria Nghikembua confirmed the appointment but did not provide further details on the recruitment process.

Meanwhile, Meatco’s human capital executive, Amorey Pote, acknowledged that a vacancy announcement was briefly posted on LinkedIn in December before being taken down.

Further inquiries were directed to Nghikembua, who stated that the board would release an official statement soon but did not specify an exact date.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.