Fisheries official fired

THE former director of the fisheries training parastatal at Walvis Bay has been dismissed following an investigation into the misappropriation of funds.

Nicolaas Links, who joined the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (Namfi) as Deputy Director in 2000, was suspended in July last year and relieved of his duties in April. Nangula Mbako, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Chairperson of the Namfi Board of Trustees, yesterday confirmed Links’ dismissal to The Namibian.She said that, following the conclusion of an investigation, Links was called before a disciplinary committee and found guilty.”He was released from duty and is no longer with Namfi.”Mbako did not elaborate on the charges and details of the investigation.The Namibian learnt last year that a number of charges were investigated against Links.These included the misappropriation of funds running into a few hundred thousand dollars, abuse of official vehicles, missing equipment and the escalation of debt at the institute.Namfi, as a parastatal of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, receives a monthly payment from the levies paid by fishing companies to Government.In the meantime, Polly Andima, formerly of the College of Education in Windhoek, has been appointed as acting director and Cornelius Bundge as deputy director.Nangula Mbako, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Chairperson of the Namfi Board of Trustees, yesterday confirmed Links’ dismissal to The Namibian.She said that, following the conclusion of an investigation, Links was called before a disciplinary committee and found guilty.”He was released from duty and is no longer with Namfi.”Mbako did not elaborate on the charges and details of the investigation.The Namibian learnt last year that a number of charges were investigated against Links.These included the misappropriation of funds running into a few hundred thousand dollars, abuse of official vehicles, missing equipment and the escalation of debt at the institute.Namfi, as a parastatal of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, receives a monthly payment from the levies paid by fishing companies to Government.In the meantime, Polly Andima, formerly of the College of Education in Windhoek, has been appointed as acting director and Cornelius Bundge as deputy director.