Teolifus Nghitila’s appointment as executive director of fisheries is one of the latest glaring examples of disregard for good governance, ethics and moral fortitude.
Nghitila this week dismissed calls by the Mining, Metal, Maritime and Construction Workers Union to step down, which pointed to his questionable involvement in the plundering of fish several years ago.
Nghitila’s company, Omukokoli Fishing, which he co-owned with government lawyer Chris Nghaamwa, was caught – hook, line and sinker – stealing fish in 2021.
Their vessel was found offloading 53 000 tonnes of illegal catches, and only 1 500 tonnes of the sole they were permitted to handle.
Nghitila argued there is no conflict of interest, because the licence had been cancelled and the company deregistered.
Besides, Omukokoli Fishing was only doing “exploratory” work for the government, he contended.
That should have sealed it for him. He should not have been allowed anywhere near being in charge of regulating the fishing industry, because he and Nghaamwa broke the trust invested in them.
How can Nghitila be trusted to take full charge when his company could not be entrusted with activities on a smaller scale?
The corrupt fishing industry policies need to be completely overhauled. It cannot be left to people who have shown they cannot play by the rules of fairness.
It is not about Nghitila alone.
The government continues to fail to put in place measures for good governance.
That is extremely worrying coming from president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s government, which has promised “no business as usual” and has declared corruption as treason.
