Human suffering brought about by Fishrot revealed

The human suffering brought about by the Fishrot scandal has been laid bare in a report titled: ‘We are the ones that suffered the most’, published by the Institute for Public Policy Research.

The report, authored by Frederico Links and Ester Mbathera, records and details the human rights impacts of the Fishrot corruption scandal on ordinary Namibians – primarily workers in the fishing industry, their families and the broader communities they assisted and supported.

Most of these people saw their plans and prospects snatched away and their lives collapsing as the Fishrot scandal unfolded. The report covers the experiences of harm, loss and disillusionment of all affected parties between mid-2014 to mid-2020.

The report aims to inform and energise the calls for accountability for the Fishrot scandal, especially in Iceland and other countries where the corruption activities took place.

Additionally, it also shines a spotlight on the lives that have been damaged and disrupted as a result of the Fishrot corruption scheme.

The report highlights the links between corruption and its harms to human rights.

It also highlighted the government employment programme which assists unemployed fisheries workers with a monthly stipend payment of N$4 000, which most say is still unable to meet their basic needs.

The report details the human rights violations and harms outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Namibian Constitution.

The various human-rights related indignities revolve around the unexpected loss of employment and the inability to secure new employment.

As a result, many were unable to maintain decent standards of living in terms of hygiene, sanitation and nutrition, which resulted in a decline in their mental health, marriage collapses and the breakdown of family relations, as well as the inability to participate meaningfully in family, life, economic and cultural activities.