The Namibian National Liberation Veterans’ Association says they want to apply for fishing rights, but the new requirements have made it hard for them to do so.
Leaders of the association met President Hage Geingob at State House yesterday, where they shared some of the objectives they hope to achieve for the benefit of war veterans. The veterans’ association, which is a non-profit organisation, was established in 2010 to be a voice for veterans of the national liberation struggle. The organisation also represents the interests of war veterans by striving to improve their social and economic well-being through initiating income-generating projects.
The president of the association, commissioner Ben Shikongo (Rtd), who took over from lieutenant Raonga Andima (Rtd) last year, said they had made efforts to meet fisheries minister Bernhard Esau to discuss plans to apply for fishing rights. Esau decided last month to change the requirements by making it compulsory for fishing quota applicants to use a proprietary limited company instead of a close corporation, like was the case in the past. The deadline for applications is 31 July 2018. Shikongo said the change to proprietary limited has had a negative impact on the association since it wants to apply for fishing rights as well. He added that they had attended a consultative meeting, where it was said that they could apply even without being a Pty, but the association has doubts since Esau’s statement. The veterans and (people with) disabilities are the priority as they are the disadvantaged groups, and we also need to give a chance for these people to partake in the fishing rights, Shikongo stated.
He noted that there will be people who will apply for fishing rights under the pretext of helping war veterans, and claim that they will hand over 5% of the profits to the association, but later keep everything for themselves. So, when they go to the minister, he will think they have veterans’ interests at heart, and give it to them. But in the end, they will not honour their obligations because there is nothing signed, he stated. He then suggested that the fisheries minister sets up separate fishing quotas for the veterans to avoid such problems.
The association has been approached by people who have vessels, but they want to be advised by the minister whether these people are genuine so that they can proceed working with them if they were to obtain fishing rights. Esau, who was also part of the meeting, said he had taken note of their concerns. He explained that there will be an evaluation committee to process applications, and he did not want to pre-empt that committee’s decision.
2015 The Namibian