Agricultural union denies plot to liquidate Meatco

THE Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) has denied allegations suggesting that it is plotting to have the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) liquidated.

NAU president, Piet Gouws, and Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) chairperson Thinus Pretorius said in a joint statement this week that the assertions are a feeble smokescreen to hide mismanagement of assets.

The two organisations were reacting to a report by weekly publication Confidente last week that there is a plot by high ranking officials at LPO allegedly targeted at ensuring that commercial banks offer no assistance to Meatco in its hour of need and ensuring that the corporation collapses.

The plot allegedly comes at a time when Meatco had been given an ultimatum by FNB Namibia to pay back N$100 million of borrowed funds by June 25 or face liquidation.

In their rebuttal statement, the LPO and NAU said that the producers organisation will not allow its good name to be linked to individuals pushing their own agendas and polarisation of the key role players such as Meatco, government, commercial farmers as well as communal farmers north and south of the veterinary cordon fence.

“Creating a smokescreen distracts the role players from the real issues at hand, accumulation of massive debts that no doubt will ultimately come from the pockets of the producers after a drought had farmers on their knees,” says the statement.

The organisations stated that NAU and LPO have upheld an untarnished reputation and have proven themselves and their loyalty to producers.

“LPO’s alleged role in the commercial banks’ refusal to further fund Meatco is unfounded to say the least. Neither the NAU nor the LPO have been involved in any discussion with any commercial bank regarding Meatco,” the statement reads.

“The NAU and its affiliates have no control over Meatco board decisions or any influence in financing decisions of commercial banks,” the organisations said.

The joint statement said that it is a priority to ensure that Meatco functions as an internationally competitive business able to automatically procure cattle by paying the best price in the livestock production, and able to recover from a period of decline.