The Republican Party has promised that once elected into power, it would nationalise the mining and fishing industries as part of its effort to ensure a fair distribution of natural resources.

The party, which is expected to participate in the general elections slated for 27 November this year, said it will ensure the fair distribution of the country’s natural resources, including minerals, among all Namibians.

The opposition party released a provisional election manifesto on Wednesday, in which it promised to guarantee that minerals, including oil and gas, as well as marine resources, are shared with the masses.

“Non-renewable natural resources such as minerals, fish, water and land are limited and irreplaceable, and should be exploited responsibly and in the interest of the entire population.

“Since independence, the Namibian nation has been robbed of billions of dollars by multi-national companies and entities who solely benefitted from our natural resources with minimum income for the government.

“The RP, as government, will nationalise all current mines and the fishing industry, and will have such operations conducted through a tender process, which will result in the Namibian government maximising the income from such resources,” the party said in its manifesto.

The RP would put in place legislation to protect and recover the fish resource over two years, which will include not allowing fishing vessels and commercial fishing in Namibian waters, it stated.

“Small commercial fishermen and local fishermen will still be allowed on the normal fishing permit basis to catch for their consumption. A catch-and-release system will be incentivised to allow the growth of the fishing resource,” promised the party.

It added: “The RP will not allow any international factory ships to operate in Namibian waters, and will ensure that all catches are processed on Namibian soil. To ensure no illegal fishing operations will occur, the Ministry of Fisheries will be empowered with the necessary aircraft and vessels to patrol and secure Namibian waters”. -Nampa