He said Government had been following unfolding events in the labour sector with interest.

"I must admit that we have been disturbed to a certain degree by the labour unrest resulting from ill feelings of both employers and employees."

He delivered the keynote address at the christening ceremony of a new vessel and inauguration of the Etale Fishing Company's premises at Walvis Bay on Saturday.

The President-elect diverted from his prepared speech, saying when he worked under the contract system at Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL) from 1956 to 1960 he regarded his employer as an exploiter.

"But the situation now has changed in independent Namibia."

He said companies belonged to Namibian shareholders and Namibian people and therefore shareholders, managers and workers must work together."

He used an analogy, saying a company was like a vessel with a crack.

"Both the owners and workers are on board and they have to work together to close the crack, otherwise the ship will sink and they will all go down."

Pohamba blamed a lack of information for the labour problems experienced in the industry.

He said to applause that if workers were kept informed and knew the company was struggling, they would not go on strike.

"I am referring to employers and employees in general," he said.

The industry has of late been plagued by a spate of illegal industrial action following drastic measures taken by companies struggling financially.

Silvanus (Bobboh) Kathindi, MD of Etale, justified his company's N$45 million investment "amidst extremely tough conditions in the industry".

He said the fact that they had managed to survive the past three years was one of the most important achievements of the company "not yet six years old".

"As we are all aware, some fishing operators have abandoned their operations - some temporarily, other permanently.

It is a feather in our cap that we continue to be alive and kicking."

Kathindi attributed the company's survival to foresight.

"We anticipated hard times and we took preventive measures.

I am proud to say that all involved with Etale came to the table - our shareholders, our financiers, management and our employees."

Etale had its share of labour unrest two years ago when dismissed workers welcomed invited guests to a ceremony to rename a newly acquired deep sea trawler with a demonstration outside the company gate.

The MD said it was vital to acquire the N$18-million modern vessel from its Scottish owner in order to modernise the Namibian fishing fleet.

Another N$25 million was spent on acquiring and improving the land, buildings, jetty and quayside, which Etale had been leasing.

Etale is an independent Namibian fishing company and came into being through a joint effort of four companies - Ompagona Fishing, Ozohi Fishing, Ehanga Holdings and Ekikimbo Fishing.

Etale became a player in the industry when it entered into a management agreement with Northern Fishing Industry in 2000.

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