Walu Fishing pleads with president over ‘unfair’ employment redress programme

 

 

 

By: Hertha Ekandjo

Walu Fishing Investments Managing Director, Erna Loch, has appealed to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to intervene in what she describes as an “unjust and politically motivated” employment redress programme, accusing the fisheries ministry of failing to ensure fairness and transparency.

In a letter addressed to the President, Loch alleged that the programme, which was initially introduced to empower fishermen has instead become “a political tool to secure votes rather than a genuine effort to create sustainable employment.”

“It has become painfully clear that this so-called employment redress programme was never about real empowerment. The ministry’s continued disregard for fairness, transparency, and justice is a betrayal of every Namibian who believed in equality and opportunity,” Loch wrote.

According to Loch, Walu Fishing has continued to pay the salaries of 223 fishermen from its own funds since May 2025, despite not receiving sufficient fishing quotas to sustain operations.

She said the company has not caught any quota since May, forcing it to cover wages without generating income. The second 50% quota was only caught in September 2025 due to a lack of available vessels in Namibian waters.

“We have acted in good faith, submitting our financial statements for full transparency. Yet instead of assistance, we were threatened, instructed to pay employees by a specific date or face cancellation of our agreement and recall of our vessel,’ said Loch.

She accused the fisheries ministry of violating its own designated agreement, misleading the public, and punishing companies despite their compliance with contractual and social obligations.

Loch questioned how companies are expected to meet salary obligations under the current quota allocation system.

“How can we pay salaries without any income?” she asked.

Loch made a public plea for intervention from the President, the National Assembly, and the Auditor General, calling for an urgent review of the programme.

“The fishing industry is a national treasure belonging to all Namibians, not just a few privileged companies or individuals,” she stated. “We ask for fairness, transparency, and justice, not for ourselves alone, but for the many Namibian fishermen whose livelihoods depend on these waters.”