By: Annakleta Haikera
The 13th National Fish Consumption Day Gala Dinner, held on Friday in Rundu, successfully raised N$324,800, which will be donated to the Kavango East Regional Directorate of Education to support local schools and learners’ needs.
This was revealed to The Villager Newspaper by Michael Samuel, the National Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) public relations officer.
The fundraising dinner formed part of the week-long activities leading up to the National Fish Consumption Market Day, hosted on Saturday at Dr. Romanus Kampungu Secondary School.
The gala brought together representatives from government ministries, private companies, the fishing industry, and community organisations, all of whom contributed towards the cause through pledges, donations, and auctions.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Emma Kantema, called on Namibians to deepen their collective responsibility in ensuring that the country’s fish and marine resources contribute meaningfully to national development and community upliftment.
Kantema said Namibia’s natural resources remain the foundation of its independence and progress.
“As our Founding President, H.E. Dr. Sam Nujoma, once said, our natural resources are the foundation of our independence and development,” she remarked.
She noted that while this year’s theme, ‘Honour Our Catch, Sustain Our Nation,’ primarily refers to marine fish, it also resonates deeply with inland communities along the Kavango, Kunene, Zambezi, and Orange rivers, where freshwater species such as the Kavango bream are vital sources of nutrition and livelihood.
Kantema stressed the need to promote responsible fishing and expand access to fish across both urban and rural areas.
She also pointed to Namibia’s per capita fish consumption currently standing at 18.07 kilograms per person per year, and that increasing this figure is essential for improving public health, child development, and food security.
The minister commended the NFCPT for its efforts in bridging the gap between national fish resources and the nutritional needs of Namibians, especially in underserved communities.
Kantema urged the Kavango East Regional Council, through its Education Directorate, to integrate fish into school feeding programmes and hostel menus at least twice a week.
“By doing so, we will not only improve the health and concentration of learners, but also cultivate a culture of healthy eating from an early age. A school child nourished with fish is a child better equipped to learn, to grow, and to succeed,” she stated.
Since its inception, the National Fish Consumption Day initiative, through its fundraising dinners, has raised over N$6.9 million, which has been channelled towards education projects in host regions across the country, including classroom renovations, provision of learning materials, and construction of new school blocks.
This year’s theme underscores both the sustainable use of fisheries resources and the role of the fishing sector in community development.
The NFCPT, responsible for organising the event annually, said the gala dinner and subsequent market day aim to increase local fish consumption, create awareness about the nutritional benefits of fish, and showcase opportunities within the fisheries value chain.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the National Fish Consumption Day officially kicked off at Dr. Romanus Kampungu Secondary School, where a cooking competition was held. Out of the five participants who showcased their culinary skills, three winners were selected with the first-place winner walking away with N$5,000 and 30 kilograms of horse mackerel.
