Kaaronda demands another N$700 000

FORMER National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) secretary general Evilastus Kaaronda is threatening to sue his former employers if they fail to pay him another N$700 000 for leave days accrued during the 15 years he served the union.

Kaaronda’s demand comes just two months after he was paid N$750 000 for being fired unceremoniously a year ago.

In June this year, arbitrator Moses Iinane ruled that NUNW should pay Kaaronda N$31 000 for each of the 24 months left on his contract and the

money was paid in July, however, the trade unionist still has unfinished business with his former employers.

Yesterday, Kaaronda told The Namibian that the severance pay package includes an estimated 300 days.

Kaaronda who said he will take up the matter with his former employer as from next week, threatened to take the union to court and sell their properties if they fail to pay him.

He confirmed that he wrote the union a letter recently on his demands and also made a presentation on the total days owed to him and why he should be paid that amount. The firebrand unionist also said he spoke to acting NUNW secretary general Alfred Angula yesterday.

“It seems that he did not receive the letter but I have given them enough time to prepare,” Kaaronda said. “What I will do is to follow up as of Monday. If they don’t agree with what I presented to them, then they should come back and tell me why. “Why did they dismiss a person if they do not have the money to pay for their action? They should pay.”

The trade unionist-cum-farmer, said he informed his former employer about his demands of N$700 000 while the arbitration on his dismissal was ongoing.

Angula, who is alleged to have plotted Kaaronda’s removal, told The Namibian yesterday that he has not yet received the letter from their former leader. “It will be dealt with the lawyers if it comes through,” he said.

He, however, questioned Kaaronda’s timing saying, “It’s fine if he is planning to sue. Anybody has the right to do so but why now? Why did he not include his demands during the arbitration?”

Kaaronda’s lawyer, Clive Kavendjii yesterday said the issue of leave days was left undecided after the arbitration. The lawyer also said he had from the onset argued that “no endeavour was made to hold a disciplinary hearing in which guilt or innocence” of his client could be determined.

NUNW said they dismissed Kaaronda for “gross non-compliance with regard to his duties and responsibilities”, “disunity, division and mistrust” he allegedly caused among union leaders and for his “under-performance and connivance with rival unions”.

Meanwhile, sources close to Kaaronda maintained that the unionist is still in the process of forming a trade union.

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