Meatco unaware of restructuring plans

THE Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) has questioned reports that the company plans to relinquish its management of the Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs.

Minister of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development Helmut Angula made the announcement in the National Assembly on Wednesday, saying the move was part of the company’s restructuring exercise. He said it would encourage the involvement of the previously disadvantaged in the marketing of livestock.But the company said yesterday that its restructuring earlier this year mainly involved cost reduction measures that led to the redundancy of positions at the two northern communal area abattoirs.In a statement issued, Meatco’s Public Relations Officer Uschi //Hoebes said that the transfer of management of the two abattoirs had not been on the agenda at its last board meeting held on August 12 2004.”Meatco has thus not received any official notification from Government that it intends to transfer the management of its two abattoirs in the northern communal areas to another party,” said //Hoebes.The company said it was still awaiting official notification from the Ministry on the purported plans.Until such time, the two abattoirs would remain under the management of Meatco and carry on business as usual.Motivating an amendment to the Meatco Act of 2001, Angula said the two abattoirs could play a major role in diversifying the country’s meat export markets to include Angola, the DRC and Tanzania.He said communal farmers would be presented with a greater opportunity to sell their meat while at the same time curb over-population and over-grazing.The proposed amendment tabled in parliament, aims to give the director nominated by the workers voting rights on the board.”We cannot keep on denying workers the right to have a say in company affairs and issues that affect them directly or indirectly,” said Angula.The Minister added that giving voting rights to this director would ensure that workers became part of the company’s decision-making process.Meatco has a staff complement of 1 150.Cabinet last month approved a new board of six directors to serve Meatco for the next three years.The Bill was postponed for discussion until September 2.He said it would encourage the involvement of the previously disadvantaged in the marketing of livestock.But the company said yesterday that its restructuring earlier this year mainly involved cost reduction measures that led to the redundancy of positions at the two northern communal area abattoirs.In a statement issued, Meatco’s Public Relations Officer Uschi //Hoebes said that the transfer of management of the two abattoirs had not been on the agenda at its last board meeting held on August 12 2004.”Meatco has thus not received any official notification from Government that it intends to transfer the management of its two abattoirs in the northern communal areas to another party,” said //Hoebes.The company said it was still awaiting official notification from the Ministry on the purported plans.Until such time, the two abattoirs would remain under the management of Meatco and carry on business as usual.Motivating an amendment to the Meatco Act of 2001, Angula said the two abattoirs could play a major role in diversifying the country’s meat export markets to include Angola, the DRC and Tanzania.He said communal farmers would be presented with a greater opportunity to sell their meat while at the same time curb over-population and over-grazing.The proposed amendment tabled in parliament, aims to give the director nominated by the workers voting rights on the board.”We cannot keep on denying workers the right to have a say in company affairs and issues that affect them directly or indirectly,” said Angula.The Minister added that giving voting rights to this director would ensure that workers became part of the company’s decision-making process.Meatco has a staff complement of 1 150.Cabinet last month approved a new board of six directors to serve Meatco for the next three years.The Bill was postponed for discussion until September 2.