THE Ministry of Education has not found enough evidence that some suppliers of meat products to school hostels are supplying meat products mixed with kangaroo meat.
The ministry conducted an inspection two weeks ago at the premises of suppliers of meat products to school hostels in north-eastern Namibia after suspicion was raised that the hostels might have been supplied with meat products blended with kangaroo meat. The supply of kangaroo meat is against tender regulations which specifies that meat products supplied to schools should be sourced locally.In 2010, an investigation was also carried out after it came to light that Capital Meat cc, which supplied meat products to one of the hostel caterers in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati and Ohangwena regions, was supplying meat products blended with kangaroo meat. The meat, it was claimed, was used to ‘thin out’ fatty beef during the processing of meat into mince. Tender regulations suggest that mince should be 100% beef or venison and sourced locally.The recent suspicion came to light after the ministry was alerted that a South African company, Blaauwberg Meat, has allegedly been importing kangaroo meat into Namibia.Blaauwberg Meat was understood to have been linked to Blauuwberg Trading and Xantium Caterers. Blaauwberg Trading is supplying meat products to the Namibia Defence Force while Xantium Caterers is supplying meat products to school hostels and hospitals in the Kavango and Caprivi regions. Xantium’s boss has however dismissed suggestions that their company is linked Blaauwberg Meat in South Africa.An inspector at the Ministry of Education, Roderick April, told The Namibian that an inspection was carried out two weeks ago but did not find evidence suggesting that kangaroo meat was used in the meat products supplied to hostels.’We don’t tolerate the issue of learners being supplied with kangaroo meat and we strictly stick to our standards in our stores that is why an inspection was carried out,’ April said.Xantium Managing Director Mark Maingard has equally dismissed allegations that Xantium, which has been subcontracted by Blaauwberg Trading, is using kangaroo meat in the meat products that it supplies to schools.Maingard said Xantium is sourcing its meat products from Northern Cold Storage and Rundu Meat Supplies.’This is absolutely a storm in a teacup and strictly dirty tactics to tarnish the image and reputation of our company. Blaauwberg Meat Wholesalers is not linked to us whatsoever,’ he said.’Me and Mr Gerhard Enssle [Chief Inspector from Education] did carry out the inspections two weeks ago and I can guarantee you that no traces of kangaroo meat were found from our suppliers. We are also serious about this issue. There are people importing kangaroo meat but we strictly stick to the regulations,’ Maingard said.The Acting Chief Veterinary Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr John Shoopala, said there’s no law prohibiting the import of kangaroo meat into Namibia.
