By John K. WaDisho
Windhoek, 4 August — The much-anticipated Fishrot corruption trial has been postponed once again, following a ruling by High Court Judge Marlize Du Plessis that proceeding with the case at this stage would be a waste of judicial time.
The decision was made in light of a pending application filed by former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala and several of his co-accused, challenging the legality of former Acting Judge Moses Chinhengo’s previous rulings.
Shanghala is seeking to have all decisions made by Justice Chinhengo nullified, arguing that his appointment to the High Court bench was unconstitutional.
Court documents submitted in support of the application contend that Chinhengo, a Zimbabwean national, was not validly appointed and therefore lacked the legal authority to preside over proceedings in the matter.
Judge Du Plessis stated in court on Monday morning that continuing with the Fishrot trial while such a critical legal question remains unresolved would be “a waste of this court’s time.”
She added that the integrity and legality of the judicial process must first be clarified before the trial can proceed.
Deputy Judge President Hannlie Prinsloo is set to deliver judgment on the constitutionality of Chinhengo’s appointment on 19 August 2025.
The outcome of this ruling will likely determine the future direction of the Fishrot trial.
The trial was originally scheduled to begin today and involves high-profile figures, including former Cabinet ministers and businessmen, accused of siphoning off millions of dollars from Namibia’s lucrative fishing industry.
The case, dubbed “Fishrot” by local media, has been under public and legal scrutiny since the first arrests were made in 2019.
The delay marks yet another setback in the protracted legal battle, which has been marred by multiple postponements, preliminary objections, and constitutional challenges.
It remains one of the most significant corruption cases in Namibian history.
Observers now await the 19 August ruling, which could either pave the way for the trial to resume or result in substantial legal complications should the application be upheld – Namibia Daily News.
