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Nghipunya ‘dictated’ Fishrot negotiations

2022-01-31  Roland Routh

Nghipunya ‘dictated’ Fishrot negotiations

Roland Routh

Former CEO of the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) Mike Nghipunya was instrumental in the negotiations to sell the entity’s lucrative quotas to third parties. 

This is contained in an affidavit by Jose Ramon Canosa, who was the general manager of fishing giant NovaNam. According to Canosa, Nghipunya was the person he negotiated the price for the hake wet quota with, and they agreed on a price of N$4 600 per metric ton, while the agreement was that he would pay the money to Seaflower.  

A quota of 1 200 metric tons was agreed on for the 2014/15 season, which came to N$5.5 million.

However, he said, Nghipunya approached him later with a new payment schedule, proposing to present him with two invoices, one from Seaflower and one from another company with both the same value, and said that he should pay the second invoice. 

This, he said, was to protect them both. 

These invoices, he added, came from Wanakadu Investments, Gwanyemba Investment Trust and Fine Seafoods. Nghipunya has an interest in all of these entities, according to the State. 

He also proposed that the second invoice be structured as management, facilitation and consultancy fees, Canosa stated. Canosa, however, denied any discussion about these entities providing such services to NovaNam. 

This evidence was provided on Friday during the third day of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s chief investigator Andreas Kanyangela’s testimony during the ongoing bail hearing of former minister of justice Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, Nghipunya, Pius Mwatelulo, Otneel Shuudifonya and Phillipus Mwapopi before Windhoek High Court Judge Shafimana Ueitele. 

The six men together with Bernhard Esau, Ricardo Gustavo, Tamson Hatuikulipi and Nigel van Wyk, are facing more than 40 counts, including racketeering, contravening the Anti-Corruption Act, conspiracy, corruptly using an office to receive gratification, fraud, theft and money-laundering, as well as defeating or obstructing the course of justice. 

It is alleged by the State that they corruptly received payments to give a competitive advantage to Icelandic fishing company Samherji in securing access to horse mackerel quotas in Namibia.

 Also on the list of people added to the charges is Namibian lawyer  Marén de Klerk. 

The State is yet to extradite De Klerk from South Africa, as well as Icelandic nationals Ingvar Júlíusson, Egill Helgi Árnason and Aðalsteinn Helgason. 

The State alleges that all the accused acted in common purpose. The matter continues today.

- rrouth@nepc.com.na


2022-01-31  Roland Routh

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