ONGWEDIVA – As talks about the downfall of Meatco linger and the fight against the red line intensifies, Swapo Party Youth League secretary Efraim Nekongo has warned “white people” not to disrupt Namibia’s tranquility.
He joins the general public’s perception that the parastatal is being deliberately starved to advance the interests of the newly-formed Savanna Beef Processors, which is de facto seen as Meatco’s direct competition.
The youth leader and member of parliament believes black people occupying high positions in Savanna Beef Processors are used as pawns by white people to privatise the meat entity, and enrich themselves in the process.
Speaking at a Swapo Party youth camp and talk show held in Okaku village, Oshana region over the weekend, Nekongo also breathed fire on the contentious veterinary cordon fence (red line).
“Not only have they denied northern farmers access to lucrative markets by maintaining the red line, but they have also taken our land. They have occupied most of our land and left us with nothing,” he added.
Nekongo threatened to forcibly fight for land if white Namibians refuse to cooperate.
“The downfall of Meatco is being orchestrated. They are deliberately starving Meatco, and now there are no cattle to slaughter. Yes… We do not have land for farming on the south of the fence because they have occupied it. They didn’t come with land in this country. They only came with their ships that they left at the ocean.
“These people think we are stupid. We are going to lose respect, and forcefully demand for our land. We are warning them not to disrupt the peace. We have been patient enough, and one day we will get tired,” he charged.
Nekongo suggested that all stakeholders come to the table and reach common ground to save the meat entity.
“They (whites) should continue supplying Meatco with cattle, and it must remain a government entity. If they want to get on board, they should, and we forge ahead as a country. This is the only way we can maintain peace and forgiveness,” he continued.
Nekongo feels that Meatco could suffer the same fate as Air Namibia, and that a similar issue is faced by TransNamib.
“We must be careful,” he warned.
Last week, New Era reported that a group of commercial beef producers – mainly previously advantaged farmers – were demanding that government immediately returns Meatco to commercial farmers, who know how to run the beef value chain’s affairs. The company used to be a cooperative, run by farmers.
Earlier this year, agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein described Meatco as a limping organisation, which is in intensive care.
He said the corporation remains in a dire financial state.
He, however, shunned critics accusing him of driving a crusade to collapse the parastatal in support of the newly-formed Savanna Beef Processors.
He reasoned that Meatco’s precarious financial position should not be racialised.
“I am very disappointed with the racial slant the discussion about Meatco’s
fortunes has taken. It should remain a discussion about how the public interest in a public entity can be best resolved,” Schlettwein wrote on his Facebook page.
He continued: “The Development Bank of Namibia recently published its 2021/22 annual report, ending at 31 March. Meatco loans [with DBN] stood at N$437.3 million. [The] debts to commercial banks were paid off with a loan from DBN. Zero improvements. That is the point.
“No improvement in the precarious financial situation of a commercial entity, which is pivotal in the Namibian livestock sector, is for sure worrying.”
– ashikololo@nepc.com.na