WALVIS BAY – The National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) is auctioning off 3 000 metric tons of its hake freezer quota, with the hope of generating the much-needed funds to honour financial obligations, including paying of salaries of its workers.
Interim board chairperson Mihe Gaomab yesterday told New Era that employees have not been paid in full for December due to financial constraints. This, he said, necessitated the auction to the highest bidder.
The corruption-tainted company employs about 1 500 workers from its five subsidiaries.
“Hence, there was a need to ensure that the sale of the quota will generate income proceeds to attend to such needs with immediacy,” Gaomab said. Fishcor aims to generate at least N$33 million from the auction.
According to Gaomab, their obligation as an employer is to make sure wages are paid and this is being treated as a priority, with a view to ensure outstanding wages are settled along with other financial obligations.
“As you are aware, the economic conditions of today are very difficult for any company and business in the public and private sectors, but we, as a board, remain committed to ensuring normalisation of employment wages as per the salary processing in terms of the human resource policy as well as to attend to our fixed overhead obligations,” Gaomab said.
Gaomab was appointed interim chairperson last year, along with Social Security Commission CEO Milka Mungunda, lawyer Ruth Herunga and academic Penny Hiwilepo-Hal, who are also serving as interim board members.
Gaomab explained the Fishcor board is busy with a turnaround strategy, which is in line with the public enterprise ministry’s directive of developing an integrated strategic business plan for the current financial year.
According to Gaomab, they have effective governance in place and are now in the process of recruiting a substantive CEO and management, as well as to provide continuous strategic oversight to Fishcor as mandated by the line ministry.
Last year, the company advertised the position of CEO following the sacking of Mike Nghipunya, who is awaiting trial.
Nghipunya is charged alongside former fisheries minister Bernhard Esau, ex-minister of justice Sacky Shanghala, former Investec Asset Management Namibia managing director James Hatuikulipi, Esau’s son-in-law Tamson Hatuikulipi and Pius ‘Taxa’ Mwatelulo for allegedly channelling payments totalling N$75.6 million to themselves or entities of their choice from Fishcor.
The money allegedly went through Celax Investment Number One and the law firm De Klerk, Horn & Coetzee Inc.
The funds were allegedly laundered between August 2014 and December 2019.
Nghipunya and his co-accused are facing three counts, including fraud, contravening the Anti-Corruption Act and corruptly using office for gratification, as well as money laundering. Gaomab could not give the number of candidates who have applied for Nghipunya’s position.
“We are not able to divulge fully the list and number of those employed, as we are busy compiling the long list of all those who are employed. We can only state that there was an immense interest in the CEO position and we shall communicate earnestly as the recruitment and selection process unfolds in line with the human resource policy of Fishcor and its subsidiaries,” he said.
He added the board met on 14 January and is in process of shortlisting potential candidates for interviews, psychometric assessment and vetting that will take place next month. – edeklerk@nepc.com.na