John Grobler
Even if pickled fish did not feature on the menu of Namibian Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo’s wedding reception, it remains the aftertaste following his recent “wedding of the millennium” which prompted calls for his resignation.
Several unions have called for Iyambo to explain his position or resign after The Namibian newspaper reported that 67 fishing companies were allegedly approached by Joan Guriras on Iyambo’s behalf to ask for “donations” to pay for two elaborate wedding receptions. Guriras, the high-powered American wife of Foreign Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, also approached several embassies, including South Africa’s, to ask for help in supplying fine wines for the occasion.
Adriaan Smuts of the South African high commission confirmed that he had received an “indirect” request from Guriras. “I contacted KWV in the Cape and they said they could provide some wine for free but expected that there should be a sizeable order,” he said, stressing that “we cannot write out cheques to buy any gifts”.
Iyambo’s first wedding bash two weeks ago was held at a loss-making coastal casino at an estimated cost of R200 000 for the reception only.
The second elaborate function in Swapo’s ethnic constituency of former Owamboland saw President Sam Nujoma fly in for the occasion.
The event made national TV news. Asked about the costs, Guriras shot back at a reporter: “Is it of national importance?”
The timing could not have been worse. All the lucrative, long-term fishing rights are under review by Iyambo. These rights in the R5- billion per annum industry are allocated by a select but unnamed Cabinet committee. It is estimated that at least half of the Cabinet members own shares in fishing companies.
Iyambo’s wedding reception provided companies bidding for fishing quotas plenty of opportunity to lobby the right people. “Facilitating” quotas comes with high price tags – one company paid more than R1,5- million to Swapo in 1995 as “donations” and lobbying fees.
Iyambo’s lavish reception rankled in a poor country where unemployment runs at 60% and pensioners live on R160 per month. Numerous callers to radio stations castigated Swapo for being insensitive, especially after it voted down an opposition proposal to double pensions last week.
The opposition called for an inquiry into Iyambo’s apparent conflicts of interest. “Politicians in our country are behaving like the nobility before the French Revolution,” said Katuutire Kaura of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance.