The board of the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) has endorsed Namibia’s ambassador to France, Albertus !Aochamub, as the company’s interim chief executive.
This was confirmed yesterday by Meatco board deputy chairperson Stephanie de Klerk.
“The board has endorsed the appointment of Mr !Aochamub as interim chief executive officer on secondment from the Ministry of Finance,” she told The Namibian.
She added that the board is committed to ensuring a smooth transition of duties to !Aochamub in the interest of Meatco’s continuity.
The board was allegedly looking for someone who has the ‘capacity’ to tackle issues at Meatco.
!Aochamub will have his work cut out for him at the controversial state-owned entity.
Meatco suspended its chief executive, Patrick Liebenberg, mid last month. Kingsley Kwenani was appointed as acting chief executive until 31 August.
The appointment of !Aochamub comes in the wake of a growing scandal involving the disappearance of 400 cattle from a feeding contract managed by suspected cannabis dealer David van der Linden, who was contracted by Meatco in 2023 to feed and care for cattle destined for slaughter.
Van der Linden, now under investigation for allegedly operating a N$52-million illegal cannabis plantation on his farm Eendrag near Hochfeld, is also at the heart of a dispute over missing livestock.
Despite Liebenberg allegedly stating that a case of stock theft had been opened against Van der Linden, the police in June denied that any such case had been filed.
“This is a clear case of stock theft and unauthorised removal of Meatco cattle from a registered establishment,” Liebenberg says, adding that Meatco was working with lawyers and the police to remove the remaining cattle and pursue legal action.
Namibia Daily News, an online news agency, yesterday reported that president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, had recalled !Aochamub from his ambassadorial duty.
However, the Presidency has denied the report, saying the matter has not been confirmed.
“At this time, we would like to clarify that this information has not been verified, and no official communication has been released on this matter. We urge the public and media to await confirmation through the appropriate official channels,” the Presidency says in a social media post.
!Aochamub was appointed as Namibian ambassador to France in 2018. Before his appointment, he served as Namibia Broadcasting Corporation director general, Namibia Airports Company chief executive and president Hage Geingob’s spokesperson.
As ambassador to France, !Aochamub is responsible for Portugal, Spain and Italy, as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
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