State disputes ‘Fishrot’ witness list

Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba, Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa, Cabinet secretary George Simataa and lawyer Sisa Namandje have reportedly been listed as state witnesses in the Fishrot court case. However, Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa told The Namibian that the witness list in circulation was not published by the state. The accused are former Ministers Sacky Shanghala and Bernhard Esau, businessman James Hatuikulipi, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Phillipus Mwapopi, Otneel Shuudifonya, Pius Mwatelulo, Mike Nghipunya, Ricardo Gustavo and South African-based lawyer Marèn de Klerk. Lawyer Richard Metcalffe, who is representing Esau and Hatuikulipi, confirmed that he has received the witness lists. They suspects are accused of having been involved in a scheme in which Icelandic companies paid them at least N$103m to get access to Namibian fishing quotas between 2014 and 2019.