Meatco suspends Rukoro

The Meatco board has placed the cooperative's CEO, Vekuii Rukoro, on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

Board chair Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun confirmed to Namibian Sun yesterday that Rukoro had been placed on administrative leave for an indefinite period.

The company's chief financial officer, Ingo Schneider, will act as CEO in the interim.

Rukoro has vowed to challenge the suspension, saying it was unlawful as he was not afforded an opportunity to appear before a disciplinary hearing as prescribed by the Meatco Act. Administrative leave is similar to a suspension whereby an employee is authorised absence from duty with full pay and benefits.





“This (suspension) will allow for internal investigations. We had to do what we have to do and there is nothing personal,” said Namundjebo-Tilahun, who declined to divulge further details.

The outspoken Rukoro yesterday claimed that he was a victim of a political witch-hunt by the Meatco board.

In an interview with Namibian Sun, Rukoro said he was called in on Wednesday and notified of his so-called administrative leave.

“This is blatantly unlawful. The Meatco Act requires that before you decide to suspend an employee, he or she must first be subjected to a disciplinary hearing. He must be given an opportunity to be heard,” he said.

“When I enquired this from the board they confirmed that they were not obliged to actually give me an opportunity to be heard. And this came from Silas Kishi-Shakumu who is the lawyer on the board.

“The minister of public enterprises has on various occasions sent out directives discouraging the wholesale suspensions of CEOs at parastatals and any suspension cannot be done without his permission.”

Public enterprises minister Leon Jooste yesterday told Namibian Sun that he had heard about Rukoro's suspension, but had not received written confirmation.

Rukoro believes his suspension stems from a recommendation to appoint a certain Annanias Katjomuise as a Meatco livestock agent. Rukoro claimed this issue was investigated by Ernst & Young, who submitted their final forensic report this week.

“This issue has been investigated for more than two years. I don't sit on the interview panels. I have senior managers who are the ones who found him suitable.

“He was never managed by me and he does not report to me. This is a pure political witch-hunt as instructed by their political masters, which is against the good corporate governance, the Labour Act and the Namibian constitution.

“What kind of Namibia are we leaving behind? Until when will we stop wasting taxpayer's money with unlawful suspension,” said Rukoro.

He added that his lawyers would write to the Meatco board, demanding his immediate reinstatement.

“Otherwise I will appropriate action through the High Court,” he said.

The Meatco board and Rukoro have been involved in a bitter feud for quite some time now. Last year in August he survived an attempt by the board to suspend him. It was widely reported in the print media that the Meatco board had failed to get permission from Jooste to go ahead with the suspension.

Instead they opted to institute an investigation against Rukoro.

Apart from Namundjebo-Tilahun, other members of the board include Charles /Urib, Ronald Kubas, Sophia Kasheeta and Israel Ngangane.