Venaani threatens nationwide strike DTA leader McHenry Venaani has issued a 30-day ultimatum to government to resolve a long-standing impasse between striking fishermen and their respective employers. Venaani who was addressing hundreds of striking fishermen on Friday at Walvis Bay, demanded that all workers be re-employed and commended them for conducting themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner throughout their ordeal.
“We shall not allow people to remain here after 30 days and will embark on the biggest peaceful protest action by unemployed persons ever seen in Namibia in order to compel government to act,” he said.
“This is a national and not a political issue, which have proceeded beyond the point of no return and must be resolved within the next 30 days. It is affecting more than 30 000 people and not only the approximately 2 000 striking fishermen alone.”
Venaani called on President Hage Geingob to do the right thing and said government, companies and the striking workers should head back to the negotiating table.
He suggested that catchment periods be extended to enable companies to recoup losses incurred due to the lack of adequate resources.
“It is time to reform the fishing sector and unacceptable that government allowed experienced citizens to remain unemployed for so long. President Geingob has many advisors and should be capable of finding a middle way on the matter.”
“Negotiations to ensure all striking fishermen are re-employed should be initiated with immediate effect. The striking fishermen are not the unemployed and a solution to resolve this prevailing situation is easy. Everyone must be re-employed. Unemployment is a crisis in the country with more than 30% of Namibians not having jobs.”
Venaani also challenged fishing companies to do the honourable thing and accused them of employing temporal workers to save costs.
He pointed out that a country such as Morocco employs over 800 000 people and process 170 000 metric tons of fish annually. Namibia is catching half this amount of fish and the industry employs just over 10 000 people.
“The Harambee Prosperity Plan promises jobs while we are losing over 2 000 jobs in reality. Government is well aware of the fact that there are approximately 4 000 Spanish nationals working in the fishing sector while Namibians are sitting without work. These foreigners are earning salaries at the expense of Namibians,” he said.
The fishermen said they are affiliated to various political parties and welcomed Venaani in his capacity as a leader. They also vowed to continue and not give in until their demands for improved working conditions and better salaries are met.
Mathews Lungameni, a striking fishermen, who have been joining others at the open plain near the Kuisebmond soccer stadium daily since the inception of the strike last year said it was worrisome that government opted to remain mum on the issue after 11 months.
“Venaani is a political leader and we welcome any help. We are not striking illegally but staying away due to hazardous conditions, which persist on vessels. Our families are starving and our children suffer because we do not have an income. Some of us lost our houses,” he said.
Serious issues
According to Lungameni, things are not proper in the industry and they are forced to work non-stop like slaves for days, deprived of sleep and earn meagre salaries.
Lungameni’s former colleague - Mathews Ndaindapo - allegedly died on a trip to Gabon and was buried there, due to a lack of funds to repatriate his body in 2008. The family apparently received a paltry N$3 000 as compensation.
He also accused the labour court of being biased and assuming the duties of a criminal court and questioned why allegations of intimidation and assault levelled against striking fishermen were not reported to the police for investigation.
Many striking fishermen have apparently been dismissed without hearings and received notification of their dismissal via SMS.
OTIS FINCK