Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has given the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform and the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) one week to resolve operational bottlenecks, reconcile outstanding funding and implement immediate interventions at state-owned abattoirs in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) and Okahandja.
During a visit to Meatco’s Windhoek abattoir, Ngurare criticised the slow pace of implementation since commitments were made in 2023, saying government must move from prolonged discussions to decisive action.
“I do not want endless conversations without results. I remember visiting these facilities back in the day; we were served good meat and everyone was happy. Today, you drive past these structures and they look derelict. It makes your heart sink,” Ngurare said.
He instructed officials to submit a progress report within a week detailing the actions identified, responsibilities assigned and timelines for implementation.
A key focus of the meeting was resolving discrepancies over funding allocations and financial reporting involving Meatco, the ministry and the Office of the Prime Minister.
Officials confirmed that N$21 million has been ring-fenced for the Oshakati abattoir, while approximately N$46 million is required to undertake critical repairs and maintenance at five state-owned abattoirs in the Northern Communal Areas.
The meeting also addressed delays in processing payments by the Office of the Prime Minister for drought relief meat supplied by Meatco.
Ngurare directed officials from the ministry and Meatco to immediately reconcile outstanding financial records to ensure funds are allocated to their intended projects.
“Everyone must sit down and ensure the required resources are made available to the Acting CEO so this work gets done. It must not remain conversation after conversation,” he said.
The Prime Minister also ordered the immediate deployment of joint technical assessment teams to inspect facilities at Okahandja, Rundu, Oshakati and Katima Mulilo.
The teams will assess infrastructure requirements, including perimeter fencing, water supply systems, sewage infrastructure and boreholes, before determining the cost of rehabilitation.
Ngurare said government should rely on local expertise and institutions, including the National Youth Service, to accelerate repairs instead of waiting for lengthy procurement processes.
“Namibia has built immense technical expertise over the last 36 years. We have hydrologists to handle water supply and engineers to assess structural integrity. Assemble a joint technical team immediately, send them to Okahandja and the NCA, determine the exact costs and take the first step. Taking the first step is what matters most,” he said.
