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Monday, 8 June 2026
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Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Gendev

Also known as: Gendev Fishing · Gendev Fishing Group · Gendev Fishing Resource · Gendev Fishing Resources · Gendev Fishing Resources (Pty) Ltd

Gendev Fishing Resources — fishing company partially owned by Swapo, facing forensic investigation over missing millions and worker disputes.

2022-09-252026-06-08
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. May 2026

  2. Windhoek Observer

    Joseph Andreas has served on the board of Gendev Fishing Group since August 2023

    Source

    “He said he has served on the board of Gendev Fishing Group since August 2023, where the company employs more than 600 workers.”

    Andreas pursues defamation claims over Facebook comments

  3. The Namibian

    Gendev Fishing Resources was owed about N$47 million in catching fees by Hodago Fishing

    Source

    “The report states that Hodago owed Gendev Fishing Resources about N$47 million in catching fees.”

    Swapo-linked firm hit by US$3m fish row

  4. The Namibian

    Gendev Fishing Group operates in the wet-landed horse mackerel sector with land-based factories employing about 700 workers

    Source

    “Gendev Fishing Group and Princess Brand are currently the only companies that operate in the wet-landed horse mackerel sector.”

    Namibian fishing unions demand long-term job security in horse mackerel sector
  5. April 2026

  6. The Namibian

    Gendev Fishing is included in the small group of companies in wet-landed horse mackerel subsector granted recent relaxation

    Source

    “The recent relaxation applies to a small group of companies in the wet-landed horse mackerel subsector, including Gendev Fishing and Princess Brand, which process fish on land.”

    Government to formalise 200m trawling ban as industry questions temporary relaxation

  7. The Namibian

    Gendev Fishing is one of only two companies that do wet-landed horse mackerel

    Source

    “Gendev Fishing and Princess Brand are the only companies that do wet-landed horse mackerel which is further processed in their land-based factories where they employ about 1 300 workers.”

    Namibia fishing industry divided over cabinet relaxation of 200m isobath rule
  8. March 2026

  9. The Namibian

    Gendev announced plans to retrench approximately 489 employees

    Source

    “She said the company has announced plans to retrench about 489 employees due to operational challenges.”

    Fish quota auctions fuel job insecurity – workers

  10. New Era

    Gendev sent home about 90 permanent employees last week

    Source

    “About 90 permanent employees of Gendev Fishing Group were sent home last week, shortly after arriving for work.”

    90 Gendev employees in limbo

  11. New Era

    Gendev notified the ministry of labour of a contemplated retrenchment of 489 employees in February

    Source

    “In February, the company notified the ministry of labour of a contemplated retrenchment of 489 employees.”

    90 Gendev employees in limbo

  12. The Namibian

    Gendev Fishing allegedly sent workers packing without pay

    Source

    “Fishing company Gendev Fishing, which is partially owned by Swapo, has allegedly sent workers packing without pay.”

    Swapo’s Gendev sends workers home without pay

  13. The Namibian

    Gendev Fishing confirmed delays in salary payments for March

    Source

    “Gendev Fishing, where nearly 500 workers face possible retrenchment linked to quota allocations and operational challenges, last week confirmed delays in salary payments for March, citing operational constraints.”

    Fisheries hooks labour in Samherji payouts
Business

Fisheries ministry defends private DRC fishing quota deal

The News

Namibia's fisheries ministry says quota holders may enter private commercial agreements with third parties to use allocated quotas, a practice it characterizes as private business arrangements. The statement follows a disputed agreement between a DRC-linked entity and Namibian fishing companies over horse mackerel quota.

Why it matters

Fisheries ministry's defence of private quota deals addresses ongoing transparency questions about how Namibia's key fishing resource is managed.

4 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 4 June

  1. Fisheries ministry defends private DRC fishing quota deal

    Namibia's fisheries ministry says quota holders may enter private commercial agreements with third parties to use allocated quotas, a practice it characterizes as private business arrangements. The statement follows a disputed agreement between a DRC-linked entity and Namibian fishing companies over horse mackerel quota.

    4 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 25 May

  1. High Court orders auction of Hodago Fishing's freezer trawler

    A Windhoek High Court judge has authorised the deputy sheriff to sell Hodago Fishing's vessel Venus 1 through public auction after the financially troubled company failed to repay Standard Bank Namibia N$36 million in loan and facility agreements. Gendev Fishing Resources, in which the Swapo-owned company Guinas Investments holds 96.5%, has 45% shareholding in Hodago Fishing.

    25 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. President orders forensic probe into Swapo fishing company

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has ordered a forensic investigation into Gendev Fishing Resources and its sister company amid allegations of missing millions, lack of transparency, and failure to deliver fish worth over N$49 million to clients.

    25 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Businessman Andreas sues Facebook users for defamation over posts

    Businessman Joseph Andreas has launched legal action against two Facebook users over posts published on 15 May, demanding public apologies, removal of the posts, and N$250 000 each in damages. The posts allegedly described Andreas as a "thug" and criminal, and claimed he had no legitimate business track record.

    19 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 17 May

  1. Swapo-linked fishing firm faces US$3m dispute with DRC entity

    Hodago Fishing, a joint venture partly linked to Swapo, faces a US$3 million legal dispute after allegedly breaching a horse mackerel quota agreement with a Democratic Republic of Congo entity. The DRC-linked party claims the company failed to meet agreed delivery volumes and has demanded either the release of 500 tonnes of fish or repayment of US$1.4 million.

    17 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 4 May

  1. Fishing unions seek long-term jobs in horse mackerel sector

    Namibian fishing unions are pressuring wet-landed horse mackerel sector companies to ensure job security beyond a temporary 12-month employment period created after Cabinet relaxed the 200-metre isobath rule. Union officials argue that the approximately 700 jobs are temporary, lack benefits, and operate under a 'no-work, no-pay' arrangement, calling instead for meaningful, long-term employment solutions in the fishing industry.

    4 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 28 April

  1. Government to formalise 200m trawling ban by September

    The government will turn the 200-metre isobath trawling prohibition into law by September. Cabinet's recent decision to allow limited fishing in the zone is temporary and will end in 2027.

    28 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 27 April

  1. Cabinet relaxes isobath rule for horse mackerel wet-landed sector

    Cabinet approved a temporary 12-month relaxation of trawling limits for wet-landed horse mackerel from 200 metres to 150 metres starting 1 May, a decision the fishing industry views with division. The industry chair warns that over 90 vessels could be excluded from fishing grounds and the move contradicts government scientists' warnings about the 150–200 metre zone being a breeding and nursery area.

    27 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 12 April

  1. Fishing workers petition for jobs after years of unemployment

    Former United Fishing Enterprises workers and others in Namibia's fishing industry have submitted petitions to the Erongo governor, demanding stable employment after years without work since 2018. They cite the pilchard moratorium and quota allocation systems as obstacles to permanent jobs and call for government intervention to create opportunities in the sector.

    12 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Fishing workers protest government hake quota auction plan

    Employees in Namibia's fishing industry protested the government's planned auction of 6 232 metric tonnes of hake quota, saying the system worsens working conditions and job insecurity. Workers called for quotas to be allocated directly to companies needing production support rather than sold to the highest bidder.

    1 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 31 March

  1. Fishing workers petition government to end quota auction system

    Workers from five fishing companies petitioned the Ministry of Agriculture demanding an end to the quota auction system, saying it fuels job insecurity and prevents long-term employees from securing permanent contracts. They argue the auction system favours the highest bidders, prevents companies from predicting future capacity, and has led to workers remaining on fixed-term contracts for years and widespread retrenchments in the sector.

    31 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 30 March

  1. Gendev sends 90 employees home amid financial crisis

    About 90 permanent employees of Gendev Fishing Group were sent home last week, with no clarity on their status. The move follows the company's earlier notification of a contemplated retrenchment of 489 workers, attributed to sustained financial losses, reduced revenue, and an inadequate quota allocation of 3,351 metric tonnes against the company's 45,000-tonne annual capacity.

    30 March 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 28 March

  1. Swapo-linked fishing firm sends workers home unpaid

    Fishing company Gendev Fishing, partially owned by Swapo, sent approximately 80–90 permanent employees home without pay on 23 March with no clarity on when salaries would be restored, after previously announcing plans to retrench 489 workers due to operational challenges and limited fishing quotas.

    28 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. 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 →

Thursday 19 February

  1. Fishing union threatens strike over worker exclusion, job losses

    Tucna president Paulus Hango warned of a nationwide fishing industry strike if workers' concerns are not addressed, citing over 600 job losses last year, 490 jobs at risk, unpaid workers since October, and systematic exclusion of unions from employment agreements signed by government and companies. Workers also raised concerns including lack of protective equipment, quota allocation issues, and inadequate consultation before layoffs.

    19 February 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 18 February

  1. Tucna threatens court action over fishing industry worker rights

    The Trade Union Congress of Namibia warns it may pursue legal action against fishing companies including Gendev Fishing over workers' complaints of poor conditions, delayed salaries, and unsafe working environments. Workers across multiple fishing firms report delayed pay, inconsistent hours, lack of benefits, and inadequate protective equipment despite repeated attempts to resolve disputes with management.

    18 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 30 January

  1. Fishing companies accused of leveraging job cuts for quota demands

    Industry players and unionists allege that fishing companies are threatening mass layoffs to pressure the government for increased quotas, with Gendev announcing the retrenchment of over 400 workers. The labour minister has placed Gendev's retrenchments on hold pending stakeholder consultation and rejected proposals to allocate quotas directly to employees.

    30 January 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 28 January

  1. Gendev notifies ministry of 489 worker retrenchment

    Horse mackerel processing company Gendev Fishing Group has notified the labour ministry of a contemplated retrenchment of 489 employees, citing sustained financial losses and reduced revenue. If implemented, the layoffs would bring total job losses in the wet-landed pelagic fishing sector to 1,100 since December, though the company says no final decision has been made pending mandatory consultation.

    28 January 2026 · New Era →

  2. Union rejects Gendev Fishing's 489 planned job cuts

    The Namibian Seamen and Allied Workers' Union has rejected Gendev Fishing's planned retrenchment of 489 employees, arguing the company breached labour law and failed to properly consult workers before issuing retrenchment notices. The company cited sustained financial losses, reduced revenue, and operational challenges as reasons for the contemplated retrenchments.

    28 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Gendev — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute