Slaughterhouse gets N$400 000 facelift

The Ondangwa town council has revamped the local slaughterhouse that was facing closure by the Meat Board of Namibia.

According to the Meat Board, the town council had failed to comply with the Meat Industry Act in the administration of the slaughterhouse, which was not up to the required standards. In March this year, the Meat Board and the Oshana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) inspected the slaughterhouse and ordered that it be closed by the end of July, if the town council fails to comply with their recommendations.

According town council spokesperson Petrina Shitalangaho the council spent close to N$400 000 to renovate the slaughterhouse, which included fencing, the setting up of two pens and renovating the building.

“The Meat Board gave us until July to have the facilities restored to its desired state or it will be closed. The council took up the matter seriously and it was revamped with immediate effect,” Shitalangaho said.

She said the work will be completed by the end of this month, adding the slaughterhouse is administered by the council and used by members of the public. Shitalangaho said the slaughterhouse is of vital importance to the town, as it can slaughter more than 20 animals a day.

Shitalangaho urged the community of Ondangwa and the surrounding areas to make use of the facility and also to take care of it.

Meat Board official John Uutoni said the town council had not been paying levies to it for operating the slaughterhouse and had also not provided slaughtering records, as stipulated in the Meat Industry Act.

“We are having a meeting with the town council this week so that they can update us on our recommendations. If nothing has been done the slaughterhouse will be closed,” Uutoni said.

ILENI NANDJATO