New union leaders deny divisions

NEWLY elected National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) President Alpheus Muheua on Wednesday said that over 700 workers “filled with enthusiasm” unanimously “voted” for a new leadership that will take the umbrella body back to the drawing board.

Addressing the media in Windhoek on Wednesday, Muheua persisted with his claim that workers were now more united than ever before, despite public expressions of dissatisfaction in some quarters. Both Muheua and newly elected Secretary General Evalistus Kaaronda refused to be drawn into answering questions about unhappiness expressed by some delegations to the fourth NUNW congress.”We can’t respond to claims that many workers were not happy with the outcome,” said Muheua, while Kaaronda added that questions related to that did not warrant answers because they “conveniently preferred to ignore certain issues”.However, he did not elaborate.Kaaronda said all unions were present when the “elections” took place and claimed that ‘only a few individuals with their own agendas’ walked out of the congress.Muheua maintained that workers’ discussions concentrated on issues such as land reform, economic policy and privatisation, union investments, labour relations, corruption and the union’s affiliation to the ruling Swapo party.The media briefing of the new leadership took place at the same time that one of the union’s affiliates, the Namibia National Teachers’ Union, held a press conference in Oshakati to denounce some of the things that happened at the congress.Nantu President Ndapewa Nghipandulwa labelled the congress as “unfair” and “rubberstamping” decisions taken elsewhere.Nantu and the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia (MUN) delegations walked out of the congress after their proposals were shot down and they were relegated to mere spectators.Kaaronda claimed that Nantu was in the wrong.He alleged it had failed to submit its nominations for leadership positions in time.According to the Central Executive Committee report presented to the congress, Nafau has not paid its affiliation fees this year, while Napwu has only paid for the first month.But Kaaronda said all unions had paid their fees by the time the congress took place.The Namibian has established that some unions were tipped off about the effect their unpaid dues would have on their status at the congress and quickly paid some fees to minimise the impact.While Nantu and the MUN demanded that Naholo be given a chance to state his case, Napwu and Nafau demanded that outgoing NUNW President Risto Kapenda be stripped of his position as chairperson of the congress.The congress was marked by verbal abuse and fighting.At one stage on Sunday, security forces had to be called in to maintain order.Despite Muheua saying workers voted for the new leadership, there was no election as none of the nominated candidates was opposed.Speaking on the sidelines of the congress, more than one delegate said they were upset that internal issues had derailed labour concerns.Both Muheua and newly elected Secretary General Evalistus Kaaronda refused to be drawn into answering questions about unhappiness expressed by some delegations to the fourth NUNW congress.”We can’t respond to claims that many workers were not happy with the outcome,” said Muheua, while Kaaronda added that questions related to that did not warrant answers because they “conveniently preferred to ignore certain issues”.However, he did not elaborate.Kaaronda said all unions were present when the “elections” took place and claimed that ‘only a few individuals with their own agendas’ walked out of the congress.Muheua maintained that workers’ discussions concentrated on issues such as land reform, economic policy and privatisation, union investments, labour relations, corruption and the union’s affiliation to the ruling Swapo party.The media briefing of the new leadership took place at the same time that one of the union’s affiliates, the Namibia National Teachers’ Union, held a press conference in Oshakati to denounce some of the things that happened at the congress.Nantu President Ndapewa Nghipandulwa labelled the congress as “unfair” and “rubberstamping” decisions taken elsewhere.Nantu and the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia (MUN) delegations walked out of the congress after their proposals were shot down and they were relegated to mere spectators.Kaaronda claimed that Nantu was in the wrong.He alleged it had failed to submit its nominations for leadership positions in time.According to the Central Executive Committee report presented to the congress, Nafau has not paid its affiliation fees this year, while Napwu has only paid for the first month.But Kaaronda said all unions had paid their fees by the time the congress took place.The Namibian has established that some unions were tipped off about the effect their unpaid dues would have on their status at the congress and quickly paid some fees to minimise the impact.While Nantu and the MUN demanded that Naholo be given a chance to state his case, Napwu and Nafau demanded that outgoing NUNW President Risto Kapenda be stripped of his position as chairperson of the congress.The congress was marked by verbal abuse and fighting.At one stage on Sunday, security forces had to be called in to maintain order.Despite Muheua saying workers voted for the new leadership, there was no election as none of the nominated candidates was opposed.Speaking on the sidelines of the congress, more than one delegate said they were upset that internal issues had derailed labour concerns.