Namibia yet to pay its contribution to regional anti-illegal fishing center
Namibia has not yet paid its US$30,000 contribution to the Southern African Development Community SADC Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre MCSCC for 2024, 2025, and 2026. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform confirmed that the country's annual US$10,000 contribution, which applies retrospectively from 2024, is currently undergoing government processes after a formal request was received this month. The MCSCC, headquartered in Katembe, Maputo, Mozambique, was inaugurated on June 11 and aims to strengthen fisheries monitoring and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing across SADC. Despite the financial delay, Namibia has provided "in-kind" contributions, including nominating and endorsing the current center chairperson. Stanley Ndara, the MCSCC board chairperson and chief executive of Namibia鈥檚 Fisheries Observer Agency, urged SADC member states to make their annual US$10,000 contributions, highlighting the center's unsustainable financial situation and the need for additional partners and staff recruitment to become fully operational. The center is crucial for Namibia, given its significant fishing industry and reliance on marine resources, and is expected to enhance cooperation and information sharing among SADC members.
