Immanuel wants Okapare fishermen salaries stopped
Protesters accused of missing work
Labour minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel has called on fisheries minister Inge Zaamwani to intervene and halt the alleged payment of salaries to protesting fishermen at Walvis Bay – commonly referred to as the Okapare fishermen.
Immanuel insists that paying workers who do not report for duty amounts to corruption and contravenes the Labour Act.
Around 752 fishermen have been stationed at Kuisebmund Stadium since 2015, after being dismissed for participating in an illegal strike. The group includes former Namsov employees who lost their jobs when the company’s fishing quotas were cut during former fisheries minister Bernard Esau’s tenure – a development now linked to the Fishrot corruption scandal.
Government redress programme
In 2020, government launched the Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP) to reintegrate the fishermen. Fishing quotas were allocated to companies on condition that they employ the affected workers.
However, many fishermen later complained that instead of being deployed at sea, they were placed in land-based factory roles with salaries far below those of seagoing jobs. They also accused the fisheries and labour ministries of failing to honour commitments under the programme.
In a letter dated 15 September 2025, Immanuel told Zaamwani that remuneration is only due for actual work performed or legally recognised absence, such as leave.
“The perpetuity of this practice while the employers report to government that employees are attending work does not only border on misrepresentation, but may also constitute a potential corrupt element, if not fraud,” he wrote.
Immanuel attached lists of fishermen allegedly stationed at Okapare while still drawing salaries, urging Zaamwani to verify the claims. He warned employers to stop the practice or face legal consequences.
Fishermen hit back
Okapare fishermen chairperson Godfried Kuhanga confirmed that the group continues to receive salaries, but argued this was due to broken promises by companies.
“It is true that we are not rendering services, but this is because the companies took quotas from government and then subcontracted the work to other parties instead of providing employment directly,” he told Namibian Sun.
Kuhanga said the fishermen earn a basic salary of N$5 432, which he described as inadequate.
“We are getting paid peanuts, while some companies received quotas worth up to N$30 million. They failed to bring vessels to create jobs and instead employed outsiders not originally part of the Okapare group,” he claimed.
He added that the fishermen have repeatedly sought meetings with the new ministers to air their grievances, but their requests have gone unanswered.
Investigation underway
Zaamwani referred queries to fisheries executive director Theofelus Nghitila, who confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.
“We have commissioned a full audit. The team is in Walvis Bay to determine who the workers are and which companies are paying salaries without deploying them,” Nghitila said in a telephonic interview.
He added that he would personally join the investigators in Walvis Bay and expects the probe to be concluded by early next month.
Immanuel insists that paying workers who do not report for duty amounts to corruption and contravenes the Labour Act.
Around 752 fishermen have been stationed at Kuisebmund Stadium since 2015, after being dismissed for participating in an illegal strike. The group includes former Namsov employees who lost their jobs when the company’s fishing quotas were cut during former fisheries minister Bernard Esau’s tenure – a development now linked to the Fishrot corruption scandal.
Government redress programme
In 2020, government launched the Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP) to reintegrate the fishermen. Fishing quotas were allocated to companies on condition that they employ the affected workers.
However, many fishermen later complained that instead of being deployed at sea, they were placed in land-based factory roles with salaries far below those of seagoing jobs. They also accused the fisheries and labour ministries of failing to honour commitments under the programme.
In a letter dated 15 September 2025, Immanuel told Zaamwani that remuneration is only due for actual work performed or legally recognised absence, such as leave.
“The perpetuity of this practice while the employers report to government that employees are attending work does not only border on misrepresentation, but may also constitute a potential corrupt element, if not fraud,” he wrote.
Immanuel attached lists of fishermen allegedly stationed at Okapare while still drawing salaries, urging Zaamwani to verify the claims. He warned employers to stop the practice or face legal consequences.
Fishermen hit back
Okapare fishermen chairperson Godfried Kuhanga confirmed that the group continues to receive salaries, but argued this was due to broken promises by companies.
“It is true that we are not rendering services, but this is because the companies took quotas from government and then subcontracted the work to other parties instead of providing employment directly,” he told Namibian Sun.
Kuhanga said the fishermen earn a basic salary of N$5 432, which he described as inadequate.
“We are getting paid peanuts, while some companies received quotas worth up to N$30 million. They failed to bring vessels to create jobs and instead employed outsiders not originally part of the Okapare group,” he claimed.
He added that the fishermen have repeatedly sought meetings with the new ministers to air their grievances, but their requests have gone unanswered.
Investigation underway
Zaamwani referred queries to fisheries executive director Theofelus Nghitila, who confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.
“We have commissioned a full audit. The team is in Walvis Bay to determine who the workers are and which companies are paying salaries without deploying them,” Nghitila said in a telephonic interview.
He added that he would personally join the investigators in Walvis Bay and expects the probe to be concluded by early next month.
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