Kaaronda to form union

Shinovene Immanuel

Evilastus Kaaronda

Although a cartel of leaders in NUNW managed to get rid of Kaaronda last year, it seems their bid to silence him have failed to materialise as their former employee now plots to take them on.

The Namibian understands that the outspoken union leader has lined up meetings with various unionists and interested parties with the view of looking at the viability of forming a trade union and to map out the way forward.

According to sources, Kaaronda has also told confidantes that he was available if they wanted to form a new umbrella union.

Asked on the speculation on his intentions to form a new union, Kaaronda declined to tell The Namibian his next move. He, however, reiterated his belief that the idea of forming a new union is “charming and juicy”.

“I am willing to stand by them provided that the workers stand up and rise to the occasion. They need to take ownership of the labour movement,” he said. “They need to change the status quo.”

The Namibian has learnt that Kaaronda has been “bombarded with countless” requests to form an independent union while there are others who have volunteered to form a union which he should lead.

It is understood that the former union leader is weighing out his options on the type of union to form depending on the outcome of his consultations. He could either go for an umbrella body like the NUNW or form a union and later establish an umbrella organisation.

Sources close to the unionist yesterday confirmed that Kaaronda was concerned that some workers are “too quiet and idle” despite “evidence” that some of their union leaders are not having their interests at heart.

“What good does it do to stand by people who do not want to stand up for themselves,” he said.

Namibia’s union movement is dominated by bargaining bodies that are close to the ruling party and commentators, including Kaaronda, have openly questioned the relationship between the union leaders and the government.

Kaaronda was last month paid N$750 000 by the NUNW after they unceremoniously dismissed him 11 months ago.

He has dominated news headlines during his tenure at NUNW. Among them was when he took the lead calling the union leadership to act against corruption, including the case involved the missing N$650 million from GIPF that was loaned out by the pension fund but was never recovered.

Kaaronda succeeded Peter Naholo as NUNW secretary general. Naholo and Risto Kapenda were controversially ousted and replaced by Kaaronda and now deputy labour minister Alphaus Muheua.

During his tenure as union leader, Kaaronda who has been described as the “darling of grassroots union members”, was almost arrested for supporting demonstrating taxi drivers and appeared in court for supporting teachers who were on strike last year.

Kaaronda reportedly also allegedly received a death threat from a Cabinet minister who reportedly told to him “you must drop this GIPF thing unless you have a death wish”.