Zorena Jantze
THE Fisheries Minister, Albert Kawana, has admitted that the fishing sector in the country is currently in sorry state of affairs due to corruption and the unequal distribution of fishing quotas.
To make matters worse, said the minister, Namibia has a difficult task of ensuring that the fishing industry does not go back to foreign hands after the unearthing of corrupt dealings by the former Minister of Fisheries, Bernard Esau, and associates in what is now known as the Fishrot scandal.
The Fishrot corruption scandal stretches as far as Iceland and Angola.
Speaking today at the COVID-19 information centre in the Capital, Kawana said the Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi and Omaheke regions have been left behind as they have been receiving little to no fishing rights.
According to Kawana, other challenges include administrative technicalities, as well as amendment to the Marine Resources Act of 2014 to bring about more accountability and transparency in the sector.
He added that since last year, the fishing sector was faced with unfortunate developments and some companies’ fishing rights expired.
Kawana explained that some of these companies were, however, allowed to continue operations with expired fishing quotas as the jobs of more than 7,000 workers were on the line.
According to the latest figures, the fishing industry employs more than 16 000 workers.
Kawana further added that a decision to suspend all fishing rights was made on the 31 March after it was found that the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) was at the heart of the Fishrot scandal.
The Fishrot saga, which resulted in the arrest of Esau, former justice minister, Sacky Shanghala, former board chairman of Fishcor, James Hatuikulipi, Esau’s son-in-law, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Ricardo Gustavo, Pius Mwatelulo and former Fishcor CEO, Mike Nghipunya, reportedly saw over N$100 million being laundered from Fishcor to individuals and companies.
“From 1st April, a reapplication process was initiated for a new fishing rights allocation process. I was appointed on 23 March to deal with a sector beset with corruption. From 1st April, a re-application process was initiated. Women, marginalised persons and those with disabilities were considered. In addition, we ensured that all 14 regions should be prioritised,” Kawana said.
Due to the cloud of corruption surrounding the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine resources, Kawana added that the University of Namibia was appointed as an external impartial party to review the allocation of the new fishing quota rights.
Queried on the statements that close to 30% of fishing quota rights are owned by politicians, Kawana stated that there is no law that prohibits any citizen from benefiting from natural resources of the country.
He, however, added that the gaining of these resources through corrupt means is not acceptable.
“I pushed for the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), more than N$70 million, as well as immovable property and assets have been recovered,” he said.
Kawana stated that it is impossible for everyone to get a slice of the cake.
“It is impossible to give everybody fishing rights. Who must survive and who must die, as leaders we have to make unpopular decisions,” the fisheries minister said.
Kawana added that his ministry would only be able to take into consideration suggestions made by the High-Level Panel on the Namibian Economy which called for the discontinuation of awarding of fishing rights and quotas to individuals.
“We cannot make a decision that contradicts an act of parliament. We need to amend the law to ensure that this industry never goes back to foreign hands,” Kawana said.
During the briefing, Kawana also denied recent reports that no new applicants were allocated fishing quotas, stating that a total 104 new applicants received fishing quotas.
This, he said, makes up over 50% of the fishing quotas as only a total 81 old fishing rights holders had their quotas renewed.
He assured Namibians that the register of shareholders would be made public soon in the name of transparency.
