Zorena Jantze
THE former Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernard Esau, has claimed that the late former Permanent Secretary (PS) of the fisheries ministry, Ulitala Hiveluah, was the mastermind behind the assignment of quotas to the non-registered JV company, Namgomar Pesca SA, which later diverted funds to entities owned by the Fishrot accused. Ulitala Hiveluah died in a car accident between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo in November 2016.
Namgomar Pesca SA received fishing quotas totalling 50,000 tonnes in Namibia but was only used to obtain quotas for the benefit of the accused in the Fishrot case, according to evidence presented by the state. The former minister said that he only signed an agreement that selected Namgomar Pesca SA as the recipient of the fishing quotas based on the recommendations of the late PS.
During Esau’s cross-examination in his bail application, State Prosecutor Cliff Lutibezi pressed Esau on emails admitted as evidence, which showed that his son-in-law, Tamson Hatuikulipi, his brother, James Hatuikulipi, Sacky Shanghala, and Ricardo Gustavo were involved in discussions regarding the establishment of an MoU that would later lead to the formation of the shady entity Namgomar Pesca SA.
In an email dated July 2013, the former justice minister, Sacky Shanghala, sent an email to state witness and whistleblower Johannes Steffanson, titled “Opportunity Angola.” In the email, Shanghala, who is currently incarcerated, shared details about sharing a document with fisheries minister Esau regarding negotiations on the MoU.
Esau, however, added that this document was never shared with him. “The content of this email, ‘Opportunity Angola,’ which was written to Stefansson on July 28, 2013, was not shared with me, as I was not in Angola on that day. I can also provide proof that I was not in Angola the following day; I have my passport as evidence. As for what counsel is trying to validate regarding the involvement of negotiations by James, Fifty, and others, they were never involved. The delegation that went to Angola consisted of the minister, the PS, Shanghala, and others. Those were the delegations of my principal advisor, the late PS Ulitala Hiveluah,” Esau said.
When questioned about the involvement of his sons-in-law in negotiations regarding the establishment of the MoU, the former minister added that he was not aware of what was happening behind his back and that he had no knowledge of “Opportunity Angola” or the others (the Fishrot accused) who were involved in benefiting from business cooperation opportunities.
“Shanghala was not the Minister of Fisheries, and he cannot discuss matters relating to the Ministry of Fisheries. The people referred to as James and Fifty were not involved in the negotiations of an MoU. The PS was the shepherd of this MoU,” Esau said.
