By Sakeus Iikela and Shinovene Immanuel | 11 December 2019

PRESIDENT Hage Geingob told Cabinet ministers who publicly condemned the Fishrot scandal to resign if they don’t trust how the government is dealing with the matter.

Geingob made these threats on Friday during the last Cabinet meeting of the year.

Finance minister Calle Schlettwein, mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo and public enterprises minister Leon Jooste last week condemned the Fishrot scandal that is estimated to involve as much as N$2,5 billion in questionable fishing deals and bribes.

It appears their boss was not happy with them going public about their outrage.

Geingob, sources said, made his feelings known at the Cabinet meeting, saying there are some ministers attacking former ministers Bernhard Esau and Sacky Shanghala, despite their resignations.

“You are behaving like you are cleaner than others. You are criticising how the [Fishrot] case has been handled,” Geingob said.

The president added: “If you are not happy with how the case is being handled, then why don’t you just resign?”.

Questions sent to presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari on Monday were not answered. The Namibian confirmed this version of events with more than three people briefed about this matter.

Finance minister Calle Schlettwein

Finance minister Schlettwein was the first top politician to criticise the fishing scandal on 1 December 2019 via his Twitter account.

“The Al Jazeera video shows a typical case of resource looting from a developing country (Namibia) by a multinational company with the involvement of a few highly placed and influential Namibians. It is criminal. All must be prosecuted. The process has started, must be completed,” he stated.

Energy minister Alweendo posted on his Twitter account on 4 December that “the recent revelation about the plundering of our fisheries resources that is known as “Fishrot” is reprehensible, and needs to be condemned by all of us. What makes it even more deplorable is the fact that it was perpetrated by those entrusted with public office leadership”.

Alweendo added that this scandal is a sign that corruption is more endemic than has been acknowledged, and ‘that we as the government and trustees of public interest need to be more vigilant. Namibia, a country with vast natural resources, is vulnerable to exploitation in other sectors”.

Thomas Kavaningilamo ‘Tom’ Alweendo Minister of Mines and Energy

“Let us demand that the institutions responsible for holding us accountable will leave no stone unturned in their investigations, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Namibia is the only country we have, and we need to protect its interests and its people,” he said.

Public enterprises minister Jooste also joined the fray by posting on Twitter on 5 December, saying he was “personally devastated” by the scandalous corruption involving his former colleagues “when I consider the social, financial and reputational consequences of these actions”.

“Corruption is like stealing, and whether one steals N$1 or N$1 million, it’s all the same, and equally wrong. I’m proud of Namibians sharing their disgust and anger, and I believe that we have the corporate ability to turn a negative experience into a positive solution,” he said.

The minister also called on members of the public to send him recommendations on how to root out corruption in the public sector.

“Corruption starts with two parties – one paying and the other receiving, and both are equally guilty. I often hear people saying that certain officials dealing with the public are generally corrupt. If that’s true, it means that the same number of citizens are corrupt,” Jooste added.

Geingob showed signs of being in denial on how corruption is entrenched in the government system.

In fact, he based his assessment of the level of corruption in Namibia on the fact that only two people brought up the issue of corruption during the president’s countrywide townhall meetings, where questions were dictated by the Presidency.

“You may recall that during the townhall meetings, the issue of corruption was only raised twice. This is why I believe that corruption is not systemic in Namibia, but perceptions have been created that Namibia is a corrupt society,” Geingob said.

The Namibian understands that the Fishrot scandal implicates Swapo and possibly the election campaign that voted Geingob into power at the last congress.

This is not the first time that Geingob is pushing his ministers to resign.

He told former deputy land reform minister Bernadus Swartbooi to resign in 2017. Swartbooi – who is now heading to parliament under his new party Landless People’s Movement – at the time took issue with land reform minister Utoni Nujoma.

Swartbooi branded Nujoma an idiot, greedy, and accused him of raping the Constitution.

The Namibian also reported in 2017 that former justice minister Shanghala threatened to resign that year after he and former fisheries minister Bernhard Esau opposed phosphate mining, which is indirectly being pushed by Geingob.

FROZEN

Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa has declined to comment on whether Shanghala and bribery accused Tamson ‘Fitty’ Hatuikulipi’s bank accounts have been unfrozen.

The bank accounts were frozen two weeks ago in the wake of a fishing kickback scandal exposé.

Noa referred The Namibian to the Financial Intelligence Centre and the office of the prosecutor general for more information.

By law, the Financial Intelligence Centre can order the suspension of bank accounts for 12 days.

After that, the prosecutor general can apply for bank accounts linked to money-laundering and crime to be frozen.

Alweedo, Jooste and Schlettwein all declined to comment.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

409 COMMENTS

  86. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after looking at a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

  87. Having read this I believed it was extremely enlightening. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile.

  124. Good post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon every day. It’s always interesting to read through articles from other writers and practice a little something from other sites.

  149. Hello there! This blog post couldn’t be written any better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept preaching about this. I will send this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!

  150. A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I think that you need to publish more on this issue, it might not be a taboo subject but typically folks don’t talk about such subjects. To the next! Many thanks.

  153. Can I just say what a comfort to discover someone who really understands what they are talking about on the internet. You actually understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More and more people must check this out and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you are not more popular since you most certainly possess the gift.

  155. You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the most useful websites on the web. I am going to recommend this blog!

  156. The next time I read a blog, Hopefully it doesn’t disappoint me just as much as this one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I truly believed you would have something interesting to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something you could possibly fix if you were not too busy seeking attention.

  161. Good post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon everyday. It will always be useful to read through articles from other authors and use something from other websites.

  162. After I originally commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on each time a comment is added I get four emails with the exact same comment. Perhaps there is an easy method you are able to remove me from that service? Appreciate it.

  166. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return yet again since i have book-marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

  185. Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after browsing through many of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m certainly pleased I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!

  188. Hello there! This blog post couldn’t be written much better! Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I am going to forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a very good read. Many thanks for sharing!

  189. When I originally commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I recieve four emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is an easy method you can remove me from that service? Kudos.

  191. Having read this I believed it was very informative. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worth it.

  194. After I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now whenever a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. There has to be a means you can remove me from that service? Kudos.

  198. You are so awesome! I don’t believe I’ve read through anything like that before. So nice to discover someone with some genuine thoughts on this topic. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This web site is one thing that is required on the internet, someone with a little originality.

  201. Hi there, I think your site could possibly be having internet browser compatibility problems. Whenever I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to give you a quick heads up! Besides that, excellent website!

  202. I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and amusing, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something that not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I found this in my hunt for something relating to this.

  208. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been conducting a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me dinner because I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to talk about this issue here on your website.

  217. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Many thanks, However I am going through issues with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting similar RSS problems? Anyone who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  219. I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this website. I’m hoping to check out the same high-grade content from you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my very own site now 😉

  227. Right here is the right blog for anybody who wishes to understand this topic. You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that has been discussed for ages. Great stuff, just great.

  240. May I simply just say what a comfort to find somebody who genuinely understands what they are talking about on the web. You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More people must check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you’re not more popular because you definitely have the gift.

  244. I was more than happy to uncover this great site. I wanted to thank you for ones time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it and i also have you saved to fav to see new information on your website.

  271. A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you should write more on this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but typically people don’t talk about these subjects. To the next! Kind regards!

  276. This is the right webpage for anybody who hopes to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject which has been written about for years. Excellent stuff, just wonderful.

  283. I’m amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something which not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy that I found this in my hunt for something regarding this.

  288. Every single one of the legal online casinos in PA offers its new users some kind of welcome bonus, but it can sometimes be difficult to decipher which ones are the most beneficial. That’s where we come in. Online casino bonuses come in many different forms and structures and some are more advantageous than others. Free spins are a highly favored component of the offers of welcome bonus casinos. Sign up bonuses in online casinos often include credits that allow players to engage in slot games without the need to use their deposited funds. This type of online casino promotions is particularly beneficial for trying out new slots or playing popular ones without a big financial risk. Some no deposit bonuses may require special no deposit bonus codes. As with all other casino bonuses, no deposit bonus codes are not concealed or difficult to find. You’ll find them promoted on the homepage or the bonus page of you chosen casino. You might even get promo codes sent by email in the casino’s newsletter.
    https://traviswqnd593602.bloggerswise.com/34219164/bonanza-free-slot
    Deposit bonus terms: new players only | deposit $25+ | 30x wagering | no limits on cashout | one time offer BoVegas Casino is giving away 175% Welcome Bonus Bonus … This bonus package is present on almost every resource and, fortunately, BoVegas is no exception because it offers several first deposit bonuses. Can you imagine what fun awaits you? Can you imagine what payments you will receive after registration? By the way, the amount of welcome BoVegas bonus can reach $5500! No deposit bonus or Free Spins 100 at BoVegas Casino by USA Casino Player | May 21, 2024 | No Deposit Bonus Codes, Top Recommendations, US Online Casinos & Bonuses What is a no deposit bonus in online casinos?A no deposit bonus in online casinos is a signup bonus for new customers that allows them to play without making a deposit, enabling them to explore different games for free.

  314. Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I’ll forward this information to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a great read. I appreciate you for sharing!

  317. Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after going through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m certainly delighted I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back regularly.

  322. After checking out a few of the blog articles on your blog, I really appreciate your technique of blogging. I saved it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Take a look at my web site as well and let me know your opinion.

  328. Hi, I do believe this is a great site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may come back yet again since I saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

  333. Spot on with this write-up, I actually believe that this site needs much more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the information.

  351. Can I simply say what a comfort to find an individual who actually knows what they’re talking about on the net. You definitely realize how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people really need to check this out and understand this side of the story. It’s surprising you’re not more popular because you surely possess the gift.

  352. Hello there, I think your web site might be having browser compatibility problems. Whenever I take a look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Apart from that, excellent website!

  360. Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon on a daily basis. It’s always interesting to read content from other writers and use a little something from other web sites.

  380. I blog frequently and I seriously appreciate your content. Your article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.

  383. What’s up, future millionaires? Charles here, your captain on this journey to the treasure island of affiliate marketing. Ever imagined making $1,000 a day without breaking a sweat? Well, pinch yourself, due to the fact that you’re not dreaming! Get your eye spot and your sense of adventure, and let’s cruise the high seas of opportunity. All aboard the earnings ship!

  386. What’s up, future millionaires? Charles here, your captain on this journey to the treasure island of affiliate marketing. Ever imagined making $1,000 a day without breaking a sweat? Well, pinch yourself, because you’re not dreaming! Grab your eye spot and your sense of adventure, and let’s sail the high seas of opportunity. All aboard the revenue ship!

  391. Hello there! Just dropping in to praise your remarkable blog. Your expertise on affiliate marketing are really inspiring. Earning an income from home has never been more accessible thanks to affiliate promotion. It’s all about leveraging your internet presence and marketing products or services that resonate with your audience. Your blog is a treasured resource for anyone exploring making money from home. Keep doing the excellent work!

  393. A forex card is a prepaid card that allows you to load multiple currencies onto a single card for use while traveling abroad. It can be used to withdraw cash or make purchases as long as the currency is available on the card. A credit card, on the other hand, allows you to make purchases on credit and pay back the amount at a later date, with interest. Traveling solo from one country to another or going on a vacation with your family, Unimoni’s multi-currency Traveller Card is a one stop solution for all your travel needs. Load it up with multiple currencies as per your chosen destinations and do instant cashless payments at restaurants, shops, hotels and for travel bookings etc. Apart from cashless payments, the card also offers rate locking facility. The rate locking facility allows you to fix the exchange rates so without worrying about the fluctuating currency rates. Students studying abroad can receive the money directly on their card. Unimoni’s Travel Card is safe, secure and easy way to handle your money when travelling abroad.
    https://ajax-directory.com/listings350177/forex-market-holidays
    This is just the way they run their business, and there are a couple of advantages to trading with a market maker and otherwise known as the dealing desk. Regional restrictions Exinity Limited does not provide services to residents of the USA, Mauritius, Japan, Canada, Haiti, Iran, Suriname, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Puerto Rico, the Occupied Area of Cyprus, Quebec, Iraq, Syria, Cuba, Belarus, Myanmar, Russia and India. Find out more in the Regulations section of our FAQs. Selecting the best forex broker is akin to choosing a reliable partner for your trading journey. The broker acts as an intermediary, providing access to the forex market, trading tools, and resources. A reputable broker ensures a secure and efficient trading environment. Brokers offering high trading leverage is important as well.

  397. Hi there! Just wanted saying hello to commend your amazing blog. Your expertise on affiliate marketing are truly commendable. Earning an income from home has never been more accessible with affiliate marketing. It’s all about leveraging your online presence and marketing products or services that resonate with your audience. Your blog is a treasured resource for anybody exploring making money from home. Keep on the great work!

  404. Hello there! Just swinging by to praise your remarkable blog. Your insights on affiliate marketing are truly inspiring. Making money from home has never been easier thanks to affiliate marketing. It’s all about leveraging your internet presence and promoting items or services that resonate with your audience. Your blog is a valuable resource for anyone curious about affiliate marketing. Keep doing the amazing work!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here