Okapare fisherman cry foul over alleged unfair treatment

By: Taati Niilenge

Fishermen from Okapare in Walvis Bay have raised concerns over what they describe as unfair treatment under the Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP).

The fishermen’s spokesperson, Snard Heita, said 222 employees who were initially allocated to the Walu Fishing Company for the 2025 fishing season through GERP, have been without work since January.

Heita said that company’s failure to comply with salary payments during the last three months of 2025 prompted the government to revoke its fishing quota, the affected employees were subsequently reassigned to Hangana Seafood, Merlus Cormorant, Mabasen Fishing Company, and Ligatum Investment CC.

The spokesperson said of these, only Hangana Seafood managed to employ its allocated 56 workers, adding that the remaining 166 fishermen assigned to the other three companies are still without employment, reportedly due to a lack of operational facilities.

As a result, the affected fishermen have entered the new fishing season, which began in January 2026, without employment and are not receiving an income.

In a petition haned over to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, as well as the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, the fishermen questioned why they are not receiving payment, unlike more than 1 050 others employed under the same programme.

“We are currently stranded in Walvis Bay without pay for the past three months, which is severely affecting our livelihoods. We want to work and not depend on handouts. We request urgent intervention to review the allocation process, ensure transparency, provide interim financial support, and involve all stakeholders in resolving this matter,” Heita said.