Africa-Press – Namibia. Sakaria Nghikembua has stepped down as the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) board director as a result of unlawful government directives that are not in the best interest of the state-owned meat company.
His resignation comes at a time when there appears to be a campaign to oust acting Meatco chief executive Patrick Liebenberg by investigating him for the disappearnance of 400 cattle.
Nghikembua told The Namibian that he resigned on Friday but declined to comment further.
“Kindly note that I am no longer on the Meatco board, effective Friday and others (Meatco board) were informed yesterday,” he says.
Documents seen by The Namibian show that Nghikembua wrote to minister of finance Ericah Shafudah on 13 June to tender his resignation.
“Given the current governance environment around Meatco, where the board is expected to implement unlawful directives that are not in the best interest of the company, I do not believe I can add further real value to the process of turning this business around,” he said.
“Accordingly, I hereby tender my resignation as a director of Meatco, effective immediately. I value the opportunity I have had to be part of initiating the turnaround of Meatco over the past 21 or so months,” Nghikembua added.
“The outcome of these efforts would be seen in the remarkable turnaround which will be reflected in the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 January 2025, when the audit is completed in the next month.
I wish you, the board and management of Meatco, success in carrying the company forward.”
Nghikembua has been one of the Meatco board members resisting interference from the Cabinet which has been pushing for the return of chief executive Mwilima Mushokabanji, who is accused of failing to rescue the state-owned meat entity from financial ruin.
ACCEPTED
In response, Shafudah acknowledged Nghikembua’s resignation.
“On behalf of the ministry and the government of Namibia, I hereby accept your resignation,” she said, thanking Nghikembua for his contribution to Meatco’s growth.
“Please accept my profound appreciation for the role you played in steering the board and for your outstanding service during your tenure,” she said.
Sources last month told The Namibian that Nghikembua and most board members told the former finance minister earlier this year that they should be given the opportunity to explore other candidates who might be better suited for the role rather than being forced to retain Mushokabanji.
These sources also said Nghikembua threatened to resign to protect his reputation from damage by being seen as having allowed the mismanagement of Meatco to continue, or being seen as open to interference.
At the heart of the Meatco power struggle is controversial Meatco board member Joseph Andreas, who is close to Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa and was present at a Swapo fundraising gala dinner with Norwegian business people in Windhoek in November.
Andreas also bought the portrait of founding president Sam Nujoma for N$270 000 during the event.
Andreas appears to be going after board members he disagrees with.
He wrote to the Anti-Corruption Commission last month to allege that fellow Meatco board members – including Nghikembua – allegedly lacked the qualifications to serve on the company’s board.
This move was seen as a tactic by Andreas to remove Nghikembua from the Meatco board.
CEO UNDER FIRE
Now with Nghikembua out of the way, the next target appears to be acting chief executive Liebenberg. In January, Nghikembua applauded Liebenberg’s appointment.
“The board has full confidence in Liebenberg’s ability to maintain continuity of Meatco’s operations and implement the turnaround plan while we commence the recruitment process for a substantive chief executive,” Nghikembua said.
Now, there appears to be an onslaught against him related to the alleged disappearance of around 400 cattle.
This onslaught is allegedly being led from within Meatco.
In addition to the livestock disappearance, Liebenberg is also facing allegations of discriminatory practices and mismanagement.
The employees said this in a letter handed to Liebenberg on 10 June.
The letter was handed over by Joseph Kambala, the shop steward chairperson, on behalf of Meatco employees.
“There is growing alarm over the mismanagement of Meatco’s assets, particularly within the livestock procurement department. Reports indicate that more than 400 cattle have gone missing in the hands of the acting chief executive and friends,” the letter says.
Kambala says such negligence threatens the integrity and financial stability of Meatco, which may affect employees, stakeholders and the future of the company.
According to the letter, employees are requesting that Meatco puts Liebenberg on leave to allow fair investigations.
“The current acting chief executive and human resources executive should be placed on administrative leave to allow for an unbiased investigation to be conducted to serve Meatco as a matter of urgency.
“An independent auditor should be appointed to conduct a thorough investigation into the missing livestock at Meatco facilities,” the letter says.
CORNERED
Sakaria Nghikembua
In an interview with The Namibian yesterday, Liebenberg declined to comment, saying “the matter is now before the board”.
“Please request information from them,” he said.
Liebenberg has stepped into a position that has attracted key figures, including Shaningwa. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was reportedly backing Mushokabanji’s return, influenced by Shaningwa and Andreas.
Even former agriculture minister Mac Hengari was involved during his short time as minister.
Namibian Sun in April reported that Hengari instructed Meatco to suspend its recruitment process for a new chief executive and controversially directed the board to reinstate Mushokabanji, citing a breach of a prior Cabinet directive.
The Namibian understands that Hengari, during his short tenure, was allegedly forced to push through the return of Mushokabanji.
Sources sympathetic to Liebenberg defend the acting chief executive, saying the 400 cattle saga is a plot to taint his reputation to remove him from the position.
The already struggling Meatco has been in the media, grappling with severe financial and operational challenges over the past few years.
To prevent collapse, the Namibian government has had to bail out Meatco on multiple occasions. In recent years, the treasury injected over
N$1 billion into the company in an attempt to stabilise operations, pay outstanding debts, and restore confidence among farmers.
Last year, former finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi said the government pumped N$700 million into Meatco from 2021 to 2023 – money which could have been spent on other national priorities.
The finance minister said Meatco is eating up taxpayers’ money meant for basic services.
“Such resources are desperately needed to meet urgent priorities in social sectors such as education, health, housing and social protection,” he said.
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