Walu MD says fisheries ministry silencing critics

Walu Fishing managing director Erna Loch has accused the fisheries ministry of targeting her while protecting what she describes as a flawed employment redress programme that has failed to benefit former fishermen.

“It feels like they want to destroy me,” Loch said on Monday during an interview with Namibian Sun.

Her comments come after the ministry issued a second statement responding to comments she made about the Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP).

Two weeks ago, Loch accused government of favouring a small group of companies and individuals under the programme, while hundreds of former fishermen who were meant to benefit from the scheme remain unemployed.

In a social media video, she described the programme as “a failed promise hijacked by greed and manipulation.” She said it had not been implemented in the spirit in which it was conceived.

Allegations dismissed by ministry

In response, the ministry said that for the current 2026 fishing season, it has no agreement with the Walu, adding that the company is not eligible for any quota allocation, and any suggestion to the contrary is false.

This follows a series of public confrontations between the ministry and Walu Fishing dating back to late last year.

The fisheries ministry said Walu Fishing does not currently hold fishing rights and is therefore not legally entitled to quota allocations.

However, it said Walu Fishing took part in the government’s Employment Redress Programme for horse mackerel during the 2024 and 2025 fishing seasons under a special arrangement intended to protect jobs.

"During the 2024 season, however, Walu Fishing (Pty) Ltd caused serious disruption in the industry when its employees staged demonstrations after going unpaid for more than three months," the ministry said.

Despite this, it said Walu Fishing was granted additional quota as an exceptional measure to allow the company to pay outstanding salaries.

The ministry said that during the 2025 fishing season, Walu Fishing was again allocated a full quota under the redress programme for the same 225 employees but "once more failed to pay its workers from October onwards".

This constituted a clear breach of the agreement, and, as a result, government cancelled its contract.

The statement added that the ministry's decisions are open to scrutiny but that decisions regarding the total allowable catch and quota allocations are guided by scientific advice, the Marine Resources Act, and Cabinet decisions, and “not by pressure, threats, or misinformation.”

Ineffective policy

Loch said the company’s concern with the agreement was that the criteria used by the ministry are ineffective in supporting the people it was intended to benefit.

She acknowledged that salaries were not paid but said this was because the allocated quota was insufficient.

"From day one, when we signed the agreement, I told them that the criteria they used were not right. I raised my concerns, but it was their responsibility, and they went ahead anyway. I accepted that; I had no problem, but now it feels like they want to destroy me.”

Loch said she had been sidelined for years after raising concerns about the programme.

"Then in 2024, when Derek Klazen was there, the door was opened again,” she said.

Punished for speaking up

She accused the ministry of resisting criticism.

Loch added that she did everything in her power to get them to listen, but they reportedly ignored her.

"The ministry is like that, when you speak the truth, they don’t like it. They don’t want the Namibian people to know what’s really going on,” Loch said.

Loch said she felt she had no alternative but to take her concerns public.

“What else can I do? I turn to social media and speak directly to the Namibian people,” she said.

She argued that her experience was not unique, claiming that other companies faced similar problems in 2023 and were later allegedly bailed out.

“Clearly, the system is not working,” Loch added.

“I am a Namibian citizen, and yet, when you speak out, they silence you,” she said.

“Something needs to be done, but they get angry when you speak the truth.”

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