Swakopmund:President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has defended the government's restructuring efforts of the fishing redress programme, aimed at addressing long-standing grievances in the sector. The president highlighted that despite numerous meetings and engagements with stakeholders, a common understanding regarding the redress initiative has not yet been reached.

According to NAMPA, President Nandi-Ndaitwah's comments were made in response to public concerns about the future of fishermen affected by the Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP) during a town hall meeting. She emphasized that the programme was introduced to empower Namibians with access to fishing quotas but was undermined by manipulation from individuals and companies.

The government initially allocated quotas to companies in return for employing affected fishermen. However, some beneficiaries were allegedly persuaded to transfer their quotas to other companies with promises of better payments, complicating the programme further. The president noted the sincerity of the government's efforts but acknowledged the challenges posed by insufficient fish stocks to sustain the previously allocated quotas.

The fishing industry continues to witness demonstrations by fishermen demanding better employment conditions, consultation, and clarity on their future under the GERP. Recent protests have also challenged the proposed termination of GERP and the adequacy of exit packages, with calls for greater consultation.

GERP was launched in late 2020 to reintegrate over 2,000 former and retrenched fishermen into the workforce, especially those affected by past industrial actions and the Fishrot corruption scandal. The president revealed a shift towards a system where quotas will belong to the industry, allowing it to determine the best use of resources, amid declining fish stocks.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah urged stakeholders to collaborate with the government in finding sustainable solutions, as unemployment in the sector is exacerbated by reduced fishing activities and diminishing fish stocks.