Meatco denies involvement in missing 400 cattle
Herrtta-Maria Amutenja
The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) has denied that any of its employees were involved in the disappearance of about 400 cattle from the Linden Beef Feedlot.
Acting Meatco chief executive officer Patrick Liebenberg described the incident as a criminal matter involving external stock theft.
In a report submitted to the Ministry of Finance last week, Liebenberg explained that Meatco’s internal controls and procedures, in place for the past three years, were functioning properly and consistently verified.
He said the missing cattle were removed without authorisation.
“The May 25 lost cattle incident is a criminal matter with no involvement of Meatco personnel. It is a clear case of stock theft and the unauthorised removal of Meatco cattle from the registered establishment,” he stated.
Meatco has had a feeding contract with Linden Beef Feedlot since 2023.
The facility, located in the Eendrag Hochfeld area, houses communal cattle bought south of the veterinary cordon fence.
These cattle are fed until slaughter and transported to Meatco’s Windhoek abattoir.
The report said the partnership functioned without issue from 2023 until May 2025, with thousands of cattle processed.
He said Meatco’s livestock procurement and finance departments conduct monthly biological stock takes to verify cattle numbers.
These reconciliations are included in financial reports submitted to the board.
Annual physical stock counts and ear tag scans are also performed each 31 January by external auditors, finance staff, and livestock production personnel.
According to the report, the February 2023, 2024, and 2025 verifications recorded 100% stock counts.
The first sign of missing cattle was noticed during an ear tag scan on 1 May 2025.
Stock takes between 20 and 23 May confirmed the shortage. The matter was reported to the Namibian Police stock theft unit in Okahandja.
The report said Meatco met with feedlot operator David van der Linden, who is now in custody at Okahandja prison pending legal proceedings.
Meatco is seeking legal support through its audit and risk committee. Proposed actions include court interdicts to stop further cattle removals, asset attachment of the operator, and police supervision during cattle recovery.
The remaining stock is still at the Eendrag feedlot, but plans are underway to relocate the animals for safekeeping.
The incident has drawn public attention, with the secretary to the Cabinet, Emilia Mkusa, writing to the executive director of the ministry of finance, Michael Humavindu.
She expressed concern about the disappearance of the cattle at a state-owned enterprise.
“Given Meatco’s strategic role in the livestock and meat industry and its oversight relationship with your ministry, the reported incident has triggered serious public concern relating to corporate accountability at Meatco,” Mkusa said.
She called the incident “wholly unacceptable.”
The letter followed the resignation of Meatco board chairperson Sakaria Nghikembua, who cited interference and pressure to implement unlawful directives.
Since then, the ministry of agriculture, together with the ministry of finance and the office of the attorney general, has attempted to meet with the Meatco board.
A date has not yet been agreed upon.
Agriculture Minister Ingwe Zaamwani told Parliament on 18 June that she personally asked Nghikembua to remain in his position until the meeting could happen, but his resignation had already been finalised.
The troubled Meatco has been rocked with mismanagement issues and also chaos regarding a substantive CEO position.
In April 2025, the Cabinet attempted to reinstate former Meatco CEO Mwilima Mushokabanji, bypassing the board.
