Katima Mulilo
The Katima Mulilo abattoir that was previously operated by Meatco is set to resume operations. The abattoir is to be leased out on tender to a company from Zambezi Region.
The appointment of a local company to operate the abattoir was confirmed by Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa, who nevertheless declined to name the company during his meeting with farmers at Katima Mulilo last week.
“I am not going to say which company it is, but all I can say is that I have been informed and I can confirm 98 percent that a local company from this region will be awarded the tender, and very soon, before the end of next month, the whole process will be finalised,” said Mutorwa.
Namibia’s national meat producer and export company Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) ceased its operations at the Katima Mulilo abattoir, as well as at Oshakati abattoir, and this year permanently closed the abattoirs’ doors after citing exceedingly high operational costs that translated into N$43 million losses in 2015. To continue servicing the nothern and north-eastern farmers’ markets Meatco will instead use a mobile slaughter unit.
A number of companies showed interest in operating the Katima Mulilo abattoir, including two companies from the region. One of the latter secured the tender to operate the abattoir, Mutorwa said.
During the meeting with the minister, farmers under the umbrella of Zambezi Meat Corporation did not shy away from their disapproval of Meatco’s plan to introduce mobile slaughter operations in the region.
Mutorwa however advised farmers not to reject Meatco’s future mobile slaughter business. He said the idea was tabled by Meatco after consultations and it was accepted by the National Farmers Union – therefore it should not be shunned.
“Namibia is a free market economy. There might be people who are interested in Meatco’s mobile slaughter, so don’t chase them away. The abattoir can operate and the mobile slaughter can operate as well,” advised Mutorwa.
Mutorwa was on a familiarization visit to the Zambezi where he also visited the Kalimbeza rice and Liselo farm green scheme irrigation projects.