Re-employed fishermen up in arms

LEANDREA LOUW WALVIS BAYFishermen who were recently re-employed at Cavema Fishing held a demonstration in Walvis Bay on Monday. Despite being promised permanent employment, they only received fixed-term contracts, they said. In a petition read on behalf of the 700 fishermen, shop steward Samuel Kondo said they mandated the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement in Walvis Bay to act on their behalf on matters related to Cavema’s quota to ensure their permanent employment.According to AR, an allocation of 5 600 metric tonnes of freezer horse mackerel was made to Camoposatu Investments and 6 330 metric tonnes of freezer hake to Vernier Investments while three allocations of 500, 500 and 1 792 metric tonnes of freezer hake went to Rainbow Fishing.“These quotas were for the purpose of ensuring permanent employment for 645 fishermen. We have it on record that they were only presented with fixed-term contracts with a monthly salary of N$3 970, with no benefits like medical aid and housing, which is contradictory to the government directive,” they said.Kondo said despite multiple enquiries, letters and meetings, the fishermen remain in the dark about their permanent employment.“We demand answers from Cavema no later than 8 June. We want a meeting with the executive directors...“Should we not receive any response on 8 June before close of business, the fishermen will approach legal practitioners and the High Court for a permanent solution.” Answers comingCavema director Robert Shimooshil received the petition from the fishermen. “We will have an answer for you way before 8 June. We will definitely achieve something if we can sit around the table and come to an amicable solution,” he said.Shimooshili added that there are many discrepancies pertaining the petition and the understanding of the agreement in general.“Through your representatives, we will give you a call to discuss the way forward. We feel with you since you’ve lost employment and the idea is to look after you.”Meanwhile, a separate petition was handed to Mathew Lungameni, chairman of the Namibia Fishermen United Association (NFUA).Another shop steward, Godfried Tura Kahanga, read the petition on behalf of the fishermen who demanded Lugameni to step from the NFUA and Walvis Bay and Luderitz Fishing (Pty) Ltd with immediate effect.The fishermen allege that Lungameni is not transparent.“We demand all bank statements, office keys, documents and properties be handed to the newly elected committee,” they said.They threatened that should they not receive a response by 8 June, they will approach legal practitioners and the High Court.UnbotheredLungameni responded that the association is governed by a constitution.“We are not affiliated to a political party. We asked organisations and political parties, including the ruling party, for support after we were dismissed for striking. Now the AR demands that the association gives it power of attorney to take the legal case forward and solve the fishermen’s problems. No matter what they say, I am the chairman of the association and it will remain so until it’s time to elect a new one in five years.” leandrea@republikein.com.na

Re-employed fishermen up in arms

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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Re-employed fishermen up in arms

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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