Stefanus Nashama
McHenry Venaani, the leader of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), has called upon Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir to reconsider the proposed plan for the Icelandic government to provide Samherji Company with 100 million Icelandic krona in renewable energy funding.
Samherji is a prominent fish processing company in Iceland, recognized as the largest fishing company in the country and one of the largest in Europe. However, it has faced allegations of corruption in Namibia’s fishing industry and the Fishrot corruption scandal.
In his capacity as the Leader of the Official Opposition political party in the National Assembly, Venaani formally requested Jakobsdóttir to review the 100 million krona subsidy plan.
He argued that it would be morally questionable for the Icelandic government to subsidize Samherji, the same company involved in a series of corrupt practices in Namibia that nearly collapsed the fishing industry.
“This Icelandic company has been accused of paying significant bribes since 2012 to secure undue advantages in the Namibian fishing sector. Their activities have been identified as a significant factor in what is now internationally known as the Fishrot Saga,” he said.
Venaani stressed that Samherji’s involvement in the ongoing Fishrot case has harmed many innocent Namibians and severely damaged the country’s fishing sector, resulting in numerous fishermen losing their jobs, and some even losing their lives.
He urged the Icelandic Prime Minister not to provide refuge to such entities through acts of assistance.
Instead, Venaani called on Jakobsdóttir to prioritize the demand for Samherji to pay suitable reparations for the damage it has inflicted on countless Namibian fishermen.
Venaani pointed out that thousands of innocent fishermen have lost their livelihoods due to Samherji’s unethical actions in Namibia. The company’s alleged involvement in corruption and cases related to the Fishrot Saga, which led to the arrest and implication of ministers and business figures, has also tarnished Namibia’s reputation.
“The scale of the corruption is truly staggering, and it is clear that Samherji played a central role in this scandal,” he remarked.
Venaani implored Jakobsdóttir to use her influence to ensure that Samherji is held accountable for its actions, emphasizing that the Namibian people deserve justice for the harm the company has caused.
While advocating for suitable compensation, the lawmaker underlined that the Namibian people should be assured that the Icelandic government will not tolerate corruption.
“I urge you to do what is right and demand what is fair and just for the Namibian people,” he concluded.
