OSHAKATI – Oshana Police are in search of a woman believed to have recruited an army of men who catches catfish from the municipal sewerage dam and sells them on the local and Angolan markets.
According to Oshakati Town Council Public Relation Officer, Jackson Muma, one big catfish sells at N$150 each, while smaller ones are sold at the same price for two on the local market. Prices for the Angolan market, which is believed to be more lucrative, are not known.
The informant for the town council and the police allegedly claimed that the fish are normally injected with some chemicals to keep them fresh and prevent them from rotting before they are sent off into the Angolan market.
By the time the police caught up with some of her employees, the suspect herself was allegedly already out in the field. It is alleged that she is carrying out similar business either in the area of Ondangwa, Oshikango or in Angola, after she dropped off the fish at her agents at Oshakati Open market.
At least 150 fish were confiscated yesterday morning at the open market while the number of fish taken outside Oshakati is unknown.
A number of fishing nets and wheelbarrows were also confiscated from a house in Oshakati and from men claiming to be the woman’s agents. The men were found selling the fish from wheelbarrows.
According to Muma the council has opened cases of trespassing, selling poisonous fish to community as well as selling untested products within municipal boundaries, against the woman.
“We have a law that compels all products sold within the town boundaries to be tested. In this case, that fish is poisonous because it was caught from sewer water.
“The public is cautioned not to buy, neither to consume catfish (normally comes with flood) which are being sold around Oshakati and surrounding towns/villages but rather report to the police or to the Oshakati Town Council for prompt action. The said the fish is not fit for public consumption,” said Muma.
It is believed that some members of the public have cut the fence around the Oshakati Sewerage dam where they gain access and catch fish from the pond.
Last month, a man believed to be a member of the team that was found with the poisonous fish yesterday, was also arrested for similar offence.
“We thought the people have stopped fishing from those ponds after that arrest but they have started again,” said Muma.