NWR staff want N$10m for fatal December fire

At least 70 Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) employees are demanding compensation of more than N$10 million, following a devastating fire at the state-owned company’s Sesriem resort.

The fire claimed the life of a toddler and destroyed staff accommodation.

The affected workers are seeking N$150 000 per individual, citing alleged negligence by NWR, including expired fire extinguishers and the absence of fire hydrants at the time of the incident.

The workers say the sum reflects the loss of property accumulated over more than 15 years, including furniture, appliances, clothing, and other personal items, as well as emotional trauma.

The allegations are contained in a document titled ‘Sesriem Fire’, drafted by the affected workers and submitted to the NWR board and the minister of environment and tourism in December.

“We demand a compensation payment of N$150 000 per affected worker. This sum is a calculated estimation of the value of possessions accumulated over 15 years, including furniture, appliances, clothing, personal effects, and the immense sentimental value that cannot be replaced.

“It also accounts for the profound distress and hardship inflicted upon us,” the document reads. Last week, The Namibian reported that NWR reportedly kept expired fire extinguishers when the fire that killed the two-year-old broke out at its Sesriem resort.

The resort, Sesriem, is located in the Namib Naukluft national park near the Sossusvlei desert dunes.

Minister of environment and tourism Indileni Daniel last week said she was not aware of allegations of expired fire hydrants.

“I am not aware of the document. I will confirm tomorrow once back in Windhoek,” she said.

The NWR employees further questioned the resort’s preparedness, saying the consequences could have been much worse had the fire broken out at night.

“The potential for the tragic loss of life does not bear thinking about, and the fact that NWR allowed such a risk to exist is unforgivable. Our humanity has been tarnished by this neglect,” the document reads.

The Namibian has asked one of the affected workers, who chose to remain anonymous, whether the resort has a safety expert. The answer was that there is none.

NWR spokesperson Epson Kasuto last week said the matter is currently being handled internally.

“Most of the issues are internal and are being addressed as we speak through the appropriate internal channels,” he said.

Similar allegations have surfaced, with reports that Etosha National Park’s fire extinguishers were last serviced in 2023.

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