National Union of Namibian Workers' First Vice President Alpheus Muheua yesterday announced the immediate removal from office of Naholo after he dared to differ in public with the group linked to former President Sam Nujoma.

Naholo wrote a letter to fellow union leaders and slammed them for lashing out at "hungry media and imperialists", who they claimed were misrepresenting facts about the mass graves found in the North.

He said the NUNW had never decided to issue a statement, as claimed by those who released it on Friday behind his and union President Risto Kapenda's back.

Muheua and others such as Peter Nevonga of the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) issued a statement last Friday backing Nujoma's account of the events of April 1 1989.

Stating that it was a collective decision of all NUNW affiliates, they backed Nujoma's denials that he was to blame for the deaths of hundreds of Swapo fighters as the then commander-in-chief of the ruling party's military wing.

However, Naholo said a letter was issued by the secretariat calling for wider consultations "as well as prudent consideration of the matter around which the media statement revolved".

Yesterday, Muheua claimed that Naholo was lying, as more than two-thirds of the NUNW's affiliate unions had decided on the action.

"We will not allow the NUNW to die at the hands of those hell-bent on murdering in cold blood.

Please report that the situation is balanced.

We are in control," Muheua told the media briefing.

He did not rule out the possibility that the divisions created by the Swapo extraordinary congress last year might have filtered down to union level.

"Well maybe that is the case.

It could be a coincidence or it could be right," he said.

Neither the media briefing nor the NUNW Central Committee meeting which decided to fire Naholo was attended by Naholo and Kapenda.

Both were also not present at the meeting where a decision was taken to issue the statement condemning the media.

Although Muheua and Nevonga claimed that they had the backing of all affiliate unions, the Namibia National Teachers' Union has distanced itself from the decision to expel Naholo.

Nantu Secretary General Meriam Hamutenya said they were not invited to either meeting of the Muheua group and are not happy that decisions were taken on their behalf.

"We are a professional union and are not prepared to be drawn into political mudslinging by selfish politicians who probably need mental health attention," the Nantu head said.

She distanced Nantu from the expulsion of Naholo, stating that those with no love for the current and future generations of Namibia were hard at work to destroy the country.

Another source said Naholo was dismissed although no charge was laid against him, despite the union leaders being aware of labour laws.

Muheua said they had appointed Evalistus Kaaronda as the acting Secretary General of the NUNW.

Naholo was appointed by the NUNW Central Committee after the resignation of Ranga Haikali.

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