WALVIS BAY – Erongo governor Neville Andre has called on the new fishing right holders to assist government in the provision of affordable houses to its residents, especially to those employed in the fishing industry.
Andre made the appeal during the official opening of the induction workshop for the new entrants into the fishing industry on Wednesday at Walvis Bay.
According to Andre, the housing challenges among fishing industry employees has been a burning issue, as companies rake in millions through the hard work of their employees who live in deplorable conditions in shacks.
“Namibia is very fortunate to have been provided with an abundance of natural resources, including the marine resource. With such a strategic resource, we are supposed to successfully address the socio-economic challenges of our people. One such challenge is the provision of housing in the country but Walvis Bay in particular. Many of the employees working at the fishing companies are staying in shacks,” a concerned Andre said.
Andre said he wants the new entrants and old players to address this challenge of building houses for their employees.
He added this could be done collectively through their social responsibility projects.
“The Cavema group is currently building 350 houses for their workers, with a plan to increase to 700 houses. These companies are showing us that it can be done, so let us also do it,” the governor said.
The fishing sector is one of the biggest economic contributors to the country’s GDP and also employs more than 16 000 people both in factories and on vessels.