National Fish Consumption fundraising gala raises N$ 605 000

Rudi Bowe 

The Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) at their 9th national Fish Consumption fundraising gala dinner, raised over N$605,000, two tons of horse mackerel and hake and sanitary pads last Friday, 26 November in Walvis Bay.

The Annual National Fish Consumption gala dinner with the theme “Celebrating the power of fish in a dish”, was held in the Erongo region to aid the people of the //Karas region.
The annual Fund-Raising Gala Dinner is part of NFCPT’s efforts to honour their social responsibility and simultaneously promote the consumption of fish across Namibia through the annual Fish Consumption Day that was expected to take place in the //Kharas region, but was held at Walvis Bay to minimise and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen said, “we are observing the National Fish Consumption Day at this Gala Dinner as the day allows the fishing industry, other business community members, and all people of goodwill to come together to raise funds for a noble cause in a pre-selected Region.”
Klazen said the people of the //Karas Region will also need to benefit from our Namibian fisheries.
Klazen emphasised the fact that if people in the regions could target fish trading and start consuming more fish, we would reach the target of 20.4 kg per person per year which could translate into new business openings as well as address the livelihood and food security in towns and villages.
“Since 2009, NFCPT and stakeholders have raised over N$4.5 million, which was utilised on assisting our communities in various regions in Namibia. Let me also clarify that this CSR initiative is by no means the only way that the fishing industry shares the benefits of our fisheries with the wider Namibian community,” said Klazen.
//Kharas governor Aletha Frederick applauded NFCPT for its commitment to raise funds and the support to the region’s biggest challenges in schools due to a lack of resources. “I am grateful that this came as a surprise. This will make a meaningful difference to the most disadvantaged schools in the //Kharas region. We thank all who pledged their support. It will be put to good use and for its intended purpose,” she said. Frederick mentioned some of the challenges schools in the region are faced with is stationery, menstrual hygiene, management material, school uniforms, infrastructure, furniture, and feeding programmes.

Pledges that were received isas follows: NFCPT and LUDERITZ FISHING COMPANY (EDWIN KAMA-TOTO) pledge N$100 000 each, LALANDI FISHERIES N$50 000, DO MAR FISHING N$30 000, HANGANA, NAMSOV, CAVEMA FISHING, VERNIER INVEST-MENT and CAMOPOSATU INVESTMENT N$25 000 each, SEA WOORK N$20 000, FISHCOR N$18 000, STANDARD BANK, MBASHE FISHING, CAMO-PASATU INV, KHARAS GOVENORS OFFICE, NAM-PORT, VERNIER INVESTMENT and VICTOR PEA N$10 000 each. WALVIS BAY MUNICIPALITY, TUNACOR – NAMSOV, KLAZEN FAMILY, HAN-GANENI ASSOCIATES, ERONGO REGIONAL (RULAR) COUNCIL, OMANGETE, WIN WIN MAR-KETING, CTC ENTERPRISES, NAMIBIAN FIHER-MAN ASSOCIATION, AGATHA BAY FISHING PTY LTD, BENGUELLA SKIBOAT ASS and OSISHO TRUST – I IZACKS pledge N$5 000 each. NDEMULA FAMILY N$2 000, SEDNEY NUWUSES N$500, RISTO N$1 000, ELIZABETH PHELLEMON, BILLY JOSEPH, NICO KLOPERS, BENJAMIN &HARTUNG FAMILY, GIDEON THOMAS and SUZAN NDJALEKA pledge N$1 000 each, JOHANNES HAUFIKU N$1 200, EDWINA & EMDA KAMATOTO N$500 and ANOME-NOUS (CASH) N$100.
Vernier Investments and Camoposatu Investments each also donated 1 ton of fish (valued at N$18 000) to JA Kahuika and SC Vries primary schools in the //Karas region and DO MAR FISHING also pledge sanitary pads to the value of N$20 000.
All donations were received by the //Karas Regional Governor, Aletha Frederick.
The 10th Annual National Fish Consumption Day will be held in 2022 in the Khomas Region.