Mineworkers plant seeds of xenophobia

The Mineworker’s Union Branch of Skorpion Zinc Mine at Rosh Pinah is concerned over the increasing number of white foreigners employed at the mine.

“The town has become a refuge for foreigners under false pretences,” a media statement issued last Friday reads. Claiming that foreigners are taking jobs, while Namibian nationals are unemployed, the union called on the Ministry of Home Affairs to urgently launch an investigation into the issuing of work permits to foreigners employed at the mine.In addition, the union reiterated its call for the immediate removal of Skorpion Zinc Mine General Manager, Gerald Boting, denouncing him as being a racist with a discriminatory management style.The Namibian has reliably learnt that Boting has been transferred to a sister company in South Africa.He is set to leave at the end of this month.The union claimed that labour relations have hit rock-bottom, adding that workers are unfairly dismissed on a frequent basis.”The claims that management want to build relationship by objective is just window dressing,” the statement reads.In its damning press statement the union further maintained safety at the mine has raised eyebrows among workers, adding that accidents that had happened at the workplace were covered-up.Skorpion’s Communications Manager, Ushi Hoebeb, yesterday said that management is not prepared to comment on “unfounded statements” until such time as the union provided it with a detailed information.Claiming that foreigners are taking jobs, while Namibian nationals are unemployed, the union called on the Ministry of Home Affairs to urgently launch an investigation into the issuing of work permits to foreigners employed at the mine.In addition, the union reiterated its call for the immediate removal of Skorpion Zinc Mine General Manager, Gerald Boting, denouncing him as being a racist with a discriminatory management style.The Namibian has reliably learnt that Boting has been transferred to a sister company in South Africa.He is set to leave at the end of this month.The union claimed that labour relations have hit rock-bottom, adding that workers are unfairly dismissed on a frequent basis. “The claims that management want to build relationship by objective is just window dressing,” the statement reads.In its damning press statement the union further maintained safety at the mine has raised eyebrows among workers, adding that accidents that had happened at the workplace were covered-up.Skorpion’s Communications Manager, Ushi Hoebeb, yesterday said that management is not prepared to comment on “unfounded statements” until such time as the union provided it with a detailed information.