ACC investigates Esau

THE ANTI-CORRUPTION Commission is investigating fisheries minister Bernhard Esau over the alleged illegal allocation of a 10 000 metric tonne horse mackerel quota to state-owned fishing company Fishcor, which holds hake fishing rights.

ACC investigations chief Nelius Becker confirmed the investigation of the Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor), saying investigators would also look into how Fishcor chairperson James Hatuikulipi was appointed. The comes after a 2014 report in The Namibian that Esau contravened the Fishcor Act after he appointed James Hatuikilipi as chairperson, instead of letting the other board members do the appointment as per the law. Esau contravened the Fishcor Act of 1991, which states that, “the directors shall appoint one of their number as chairperson of the board, who shall preside at all meetings of the board at which he or she is present and who in the event of an equality of votes on any matter shall have a casting vote in addition to his or her deliberative vote”.