I dared to question, says ‘expelled’ unionist

EXPELLED National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) acting Secretary General Peter Naholo claims he was booted because he questioned procedures used by leaders of some NUNW affiliates before a statement was issued backing Swapo President Sam Nujoma’s account of the events of April 1 1989.

Naholo told the High Court that he is being victimised “because I dared to question” the media statement. The group subsequently decided to replace him with Alfred Angula, General Secretary of the Namibia Farmworkers’ Union, at the upcoming NUNW congress, he argues.Naholo is also challenging the constitutionality of a meeting called to fire him, and dismissed as lies claims that he threatened NUNW members with violence.It is the first time Naholo has stated publicly that he was ousted because he dared to question procedures used before a statement was issued in support of Nujoma.A letter by Naholo to NUNW affiliates in December last year, and attached to his affidavit, states that he expressed concern that the umbrella body had not been consulted before the statement to support Nujoma was issued.”It is only appropriate that the NUNW is properly drawn into this very important initiative and for this to happen, we propose that a meeting be held in the course of next week where most, if not all, leaders of the NUNW and its affiliates must be present,” Naholo wrote to affiliates.Instead, some affiliates called a media briefing and announced that a collective decision was taken to back 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.Naholo countered with a statement in which he said the NUNW never decided to issue such a statement, as claimed by those who released it behind his and NUNW President Risto Kapenda’s back.NUNW first vice president Alpheus Muheua and others then expelled Naholo.Muheua maintained that they had followed the right procedures before sacking Naholo.Naholo asked the High Court to nullify his sacking and to ask Muheua to personally pay the costs of the case.He said it was unlikely that all NUNW Central Executive Committee members attended the meeting which decided to fire him and that the seven-day notice for such a meeting was never issued.He said NUNW President Risto Kapenda and CEC members such as Namibia National Teachers’ Union President Ndapewa Nghipandulwa and Secretary General Meriam Hamutenya did not know about the meeting.”I challenge the applicant to produce the minutes of the meeting of the CEC purporting to terminate my services as well as resolving to bring this application,” he added.Naholo said he was neither given a hearing nor notice of the meeting where he was fired.”There is no fair and valid reason for my termination,” Naholo said.When the NUNW obtained an urgent court order against him, the umbrella body alleged that he was aggressive and threatened staff with violence.Naholo denied the claims.”This allegation (of threatening staff) is an unadulterated lie.I did not threaten to assault anyone,” he said.Naholo attached affidavits by two people – Sakkie Amenya and Lazarus Shaduka – who attended his media briefing at the NUNW.Both say they were neither armed nor threatened with violence.Sources said infighting in the umbrella union, which is affiliated to Swapo, will intensify in the run-up to the union congress where a new leadership will be elected that will have 10 voting rights at next year’s Swapo congress.Judge Anel Silungwe gave the NUNW until February 27 to reply to Naholo’s affidavit.The group subsequently decided to replace him with Alfred Angula, General Secretary of the Namibia Farmworkers’ Union, at the upcoming NUNW congress, he argues.Naholo is also challenging the constitutionality of a meeting called to fire him, and dismissed as lies claims that he threatened NUNW members with violence.It is the first time Naholo has stated publicly that he was ousted because he dared to question procedures used before a statement was issued in support of Nujoma.A letter by Naholo to NUNW affiliates in December last year, and attached to his affidavit, states that he expressed concern that the umbrella body had not been consulted before the statement to support Nujoma was issued.”It is only appropriate that the NUNW is properly drawn into this very important initiative and for this to happen, we propose that a meeting be held in the course of next week where most, if not all, leaders of the NUNW and its affiliates must be present,” Naholo wrote to affiliates.Instead, some affiliates called a media briefing and announced that a collective decision was taken to back 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.Naholo countered with a statement in which he said the NUNW never decided to issue such a statement, as claimed by those who released it behind his and NUNW President Risto Kapenda’s back.NUNW first vice president Alpheus Muheua and others then expelled Naholo.Muheua maintained that they had followed the right procedures before sacking Naholo.Naholo asked the High Court to nullify his sacking and to ask Muheua to personally pay the costs of the case.He said it was unlikely that all NUNW Central Executive Committee members attended the meeting which decided to fire him and that the seven-day notice for such a meeting was never issued.He said NUNW President Risto Kapenda and CEC members such as Namibia National Teachers’ Union President Ndapewa Nghipandulwa and Secretary General Meriam Hamutenya did not know about the meeting.”I challenge the applicant to produce the minutes of the meeting of the CEC purporting to terminate my services as well as resolving to bring this application,” he added.Naholo said he was neither given a hearing nor notice of the meeting where he was fired.”There is no fair and valid reason for my termination,” Naholo said.When the NUNW obtained an urgent court order against him, the umbrella body alleged that he was aggressive and threatened staff with violence.Naholo denied the claims.”This allegation (of threatening staff) is an unadulterated lie.I did not threaten to assault anyone,” he said.Naholo attached affidavits by two people – Sakkie Amenya and Lazarus Shaduka – who attended his media briefing at the NUNW.Both say they were neither armed nor threatened with violence.Sources said infighting in the umbrella union, which is affiliated to Swapo, will intensify in the run-up to the union congress where a new leadership will be elected that will have 10 voting rights at next year’s Swapo congress.Judge Anel Silungwe gave the NUNW until February 27 to reply to Naholo’s affidavit.