Namibia Minute.
24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Event

Fishrot

Also known as: Fishrot fraud · Fishrot case · Fishrot fraud, corruption and racketeering case · Fishrot corruption scandal · 2019 Fishrot scandal · 2019 corruption scandal · Fishrot fraud and corruption scandal · Fishrot saga · Fishrot affair · The Fishrot Gang · Fishrot accused · Fishrot scandal · Fishrot trial · Fishrot corruption case · Fishrot matter · Fishrot corruption and fraud trial · Fishrot corruption saga

Opinion

Opinion: Satirical critique of council CEO's self-appointment

The News

This is a satirical opinion piece criticizing an acting council CEO (referred to as "Fernest") who appointed himself to a newly created human resources and administration manager position, including awarding himself allowances and benefits via a self-congratulatory letter. The piece uses heavy irony to mock the lack of transparency and ethics involved in the self-appointment.

4 April 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 4 April

  1. Opinion: Satirical critique of council CEO's self-appointment

    This is a satirical opinion piece criticizing an acting council CEO (referred to as "Fernest") who appointed himself to a newly created human resources and administration manager position, including awarding himself allowances and benefits via a self-congratulatory letter. The piece uses heavy irony to mock the lack of transparency and ethics involved in the self-appointment.

    4 April 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 3 April

  1. Fishrot accused lose Supreme Court appeal on asset restraint

    Three accused in the Fishrot fraud case—former attorney general Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, and Pius Mwatelulo—lost their Supreme Court appeal against an assets restraint order imposed under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. The court upheld the High Court's 2023 confirmation of the restraint, which freezes assets including bank funds, property, vehicles, and luxury goods belonging to six of the accused, and ordered the three appellants to pay the prosecutor general's legal costs.

    3 April 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Curators struggle to recover overseas assets in Fishrot scandal

    Government-appointed curators tasked with seizing assets linked to the Fishrot corruption scandal face legal hurdles and institutional delays in accessing foreign properties owned by suspects, with a February 2025 court order needed to extend seizure powers abroad. The curators report ongoing obstacles including uncooperative banks, missed meetings with defendants, and slow responses from financial institutions, hampering their efforts to catalogue and recover assets valued at over N$317 million.

    1 April 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 28 March

  1. Fishrot scandal reflects misaligned governance, not institutional failure

    An analysis argues that the Fishrot corruption scandal was not a failure of governance systems, but rather institutions operating effectively toward extraction rather than public purpose. The piece contends that removing individuals is insufficient if the underlying orientation of the system remains unchanged, and that structural alignment with stated purpose is essential to integrity.

    28 March 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 25 March

  1. MP warns petroleum bill risks repeating fisheries corruption mistakes

    Independent Patriots for Change MP Michael Mulunga argued during National Assembly debate that the petroleum amendment bill, which would place oil and gas under the Office of the President, mirrors the governance failures that led to the 2019 Fishrot scandal. He warned that granting such discretionary powers without proper oversight risks similar corruption and questioned why the bill is urgent when commercial oil production is years away.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Fisheries ministry passes Samherji workers' compensation claims to Labour

    The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has referred compensation claims from 252 former Samherji employees to the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, noting that affected workers were already considered under a government redress programme aimed at reintegrating them into the fishing industry following the company's 2019–2020 closure. Some former employees argue that placement at other companies does not fully address their financial losses.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 24 March

  1. Judge Du Plessis refuses to step down from Fishrot trial

    Acting judge Marilize du Plessis rejected an application by two accused in the Fishrot fraud and corruption case to recuse herself, finding that her factual observations about trial delays did not demonstrate bias and that her acquaintance with two state witnesses would not affect her impartiality.

    24 March 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 23 March

  1. High Court judge rejects Fishrot accused's bias challenge

    High Court Judge Marilize du Plessis has dismissed an application by Fishrot-accused former Minister of Justice Sacky Shanghala and co-accused to remove her from the case, rejecting their allegations that she was biased and lacked experience to preside over the trial.

    23 March 2026 · Informanté

  2. President urges Namibians to embrace progress amid persistent challenges

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered an Independence Day address highlighting 36 years of democratic progress, infrastructure development, and education advancement while calling for collective action to address poverty, inequality, unemployment, corruption, and tribalism. She warned of external risks including global tensions and climate change, and committed government to achieving Vision 2030 goals through investment in youth development, subsidised tertiary education, and infrastructure.

    23 March 2026 · New Era

Thursday 12 March

  1. Fishrot defendants clash over judge removal bid

    Ex-Cabinet minister Sacky Shanghala is seeking to recuse Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis from the protracted Fishrot corruption trial, arguing her previous pronouncements show bias and prejudice, while co-accused Ricardo Gustavo opposes the application as a delay tactic unsupported by facts of actual bias.

    12 March 2026 · New Era

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