Nghipunya 'running Fishcor' from jail

RONELLE RADEMEYERWINDHOEKThe board of the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) says there exists 'anecdotal evidence' that the company's suspended CEO, Mike Nghipunya, is giving orders to managers from jail.Nghipunya was arrested in February after he was implicated in the Fishrot corruption scandal which allegedly paid over N$100 million in bribes and kickbacks to prominent government officials and their cronies.His bid to be released on bail failed in both the Magistrate's Court and High Court. TensionTension is currently simmering between the interim board at Fishcor and managers at the company and its subsidiaries.Both sides are accusing each other of incompetence. Fishcor chairman Mihe Gaomab II told Namibian Sun's sister newspaper Republikein that Nghipunya was still directing the running of the company from prison.“He [Nghipunya] has no salary but [he] is formally employed as CEO and he [gives] orders to management, which is not founded but anecdotal evidence shows so definitively, in terms of influence peddling,” said Gaomab.Gaomab said the board's work was being hampered by uncooperative managers.He further accused some managers of sabotaging Fishcor along with those linked to the Fishrot scandal.Paul Ngalangi, the Fishcor group general manager for finance, declined to comment on the letter sent by him and other senior executives to the board, as well as to minister of public enterprises Leon Jooste and fisheries minister Albert Kawana. Board accusedGaomab and the other board members - Ruth Herunga, Milka Mungunda and Penny Hiwilepo – are accused of failing in their duty and causing the collapse of the Seaflower subsidiaries. The interim board of directors was appointed for a six-month term on 27 July after the term of the previous board expired.The previous board's chairman, James Hatuikulipi, was also arrested in connection with the Fishrot bribery scandal, so is then line minister Bernard Esau, who allegedly masterminded the Fishrot bribery scandal while being minister of fisheries.Nghipunya's post has not been filled yet. In a letter leaked to the press, seven senior Fishcor managers in October urged Gaomab and the other directors to urgently pay attention to a cash-flow crisis at the state-owned enterprise. Lüderitz operation paralysedFishcor owns 100% of the shares in Seaflower Lobster Corporation and 78% in Seaflower Whitefish Corporation at Lüderitz.Although the hake season started on 1 November, Seaflower WhiteFish's vessels have not gone to sea yet. It emerged from the letter to the board that the vessels did not get the necessary safety clearance from the transport ministry because they had not been serviced.According to the letter, the board also ignored a request to renew the annual contracts for the lease of Seaflower Lobster's vessels to skippers. The lobster season also started on 1 November. According to an informed source in the fishing industry, Fishcor owes the ministry of fisheries and marine resources about N$9 million in overdue fees. Until these are paid, fishing licences cannot be issued.Gaomab hit back in a strongly worded statement to the management of Fishcor, saying it is because they are not doing their jobs that the situation is so dire. Seaflower Pelagic ProcessingAt Walvis Bay, relations between Fishcor and African Selection Trust (AST), which holds 60% of the shares in Seaflower Pelagic Processing (SPP), have further deteriorated.Apparently Fishcor's board is no longer represented on the boards of any of the SPP entities.The Fishcor directors resigned as members of SPP's board of directors on 24 August. Conflict of interest was given as the reason for their resignation.On 30 October, they were also removed from the board of SPProperties, wholly owned by SSP.Approached for comment, Jooste said the interim board had his full confidence and support.He said there are many groups and individuals that want to protect their interests and it came as no surprise that the board was encountering resistance.

Nghipunya 'running Fishcor' from jail

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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Nghipunya 'running Fishcor' from jail

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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