NHE boss hits back at union

THE war of words between the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) and the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) continued this past week, despite the fact that negotiations about the company’s restructuring process last year have fallen flat.

Most recently, NHE CEO Vincent Hailulu called a press conference on Friday to respond to allegations made by NUNW Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda earlier in the week. Kaaronda had questioned Hailulu’s competence in running the State-owned enterprise, and accused the CEO of misspending NHE money in questionable transactions.The union threatened to ask the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to look into allegations such as the purchase of a N$14 000 chair for Hailulu, as well as an allegedly unaccounted for amount of N$46 000 withdrawn by the CEO last year.Hailulu on Friday retaliated by questioning Kaaronda’s credibility and saying Kaaronda was misleading the public with his allegations.”The NHE is not surprised by the behaviour and move of NUNW by launching personal attacks and unfounded allegations in this regard,” Hailulu told reporters in Windhoek.He attributed the union’s attacks to frustration and spite, since on Tuesday last week, legal firm Metcalfe Legal Practitioners was granted power of attorney in the court case between the company and 18 former workers retrenched during the restructuring process.Because of this, the unions no longer have any mandate to represent the former workers in the matter.”Kaaronda’s unreasonable action is therefore a function of frustration and most probably disappointment caused by this situation,” Hailulu said.The N$46 000 the union said he had spent without accounting for it was paid to a travel agency in China, Hailulu said, during a trip that he and NHE board Chairperson Gerhard Toetemeyer made to that country last year.”Such expenses were fully authorised with respect to the coverage of expenses related to transport, accommodation and other matters and other costs during the visit,” Hailulu said.The alleged N$14 000 chair in fact cost the company no more than N$2 000, he added, saying that the amount the union referred to was actually for a conference table and chairs for the company’s boardroom.”The company had hoped to engage the union productively, however it seems the labour union movement in this country requires a serious transformation.The key challenge the union movement is facing is transforming itself from political to legal entities that can best represent the interest of the workers and contribute to the economic growth and development in this country.For this transformation to take place, it requires people with leadership capabilities and not people like Kaaronda,” Hailulu charged.He added that he was considering legal action against the union leader for defaming him.”It should be noted that I am a Harvard (University) graduate, one of the most reputable universities in the world, and hold a Master’s degree in public management from there,” Hailulu told reporters.While the union charged that the NHE was bleeding dry as a result of Hailulu’s actions, the CEO claimed that the company had in fact reduced its employment costs by 23 per cent.Kaaronda had questioned Hailulu’s competence in running the State-owned enterprise, and accused the CEO of misspending NHE money in questionable transactions.The union threatened to ask the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to look into allegations such as the purchase of a N$14 000 chair for Hailulu, as well as an allegedly unaccounted for amount of N$46 000 withdrawn by the CEO last year.Hailulu on Friday retaliated by questioning Kaaronda’s credibility and saying Kaaronda was misleading the public with his allegations.”The NHE is not surprised by the behaviour and move of NUNW by launching personal attacks and unfounded allegations in this regard,” Hailulu told reporters in Windhoek.He attributed the union’s attacks to frustration and spite, since on Tuesday last week, legal firm Metcalfe Legal Practitioners was granted power of attorney in the court case between the company and 18 former workers retrenched during the restructuring process.Because of this, the unions no longer have any mandate to represent the former workers in the matter.”Kaaronda’s unreasonable action is therefore a function of frustration and most probably disappointment caused by this situation,” Hailulu said.The N$46 000 the union said he had spent without accounting for it was paid to a travel agency in China, Hailulu said, during a trip that he and NHE board Chairperson Gerhard Toetemeyer made to that country last year.”Such expenses were fully authorised with respect to the coverage of expenses related to transport, accommodation and other matters and other costs during the visit,” Hailulu said.The alleged N$14 000 chair in fact cost the company no more than N$2 000, he added, saying that the amount the union referred to was actually for a conference table and chairs for the company’s boardroom.”The company had hoped to engage the union productively, however it seems the labour union movement in this country requires a serious transformation.The key challenge the union movement is facing is transforming itself from political to legal entities that can best represent the interest of the workers and contribute to the economic growth and development in this country.For this transformation to take place, it requires people with leadership capabilities and not people like Kaaronda,” Hailulu charged.He added that he was considering legal action against the union leader for defaming him.”It should be noted that I am a Harvard (University) graduate, one of the most reputable universities in the world, and hold a Master’s degree in public management from there,” Hailulu told reporters.While the union charged that the NHE was bleeding dry as a result of Hailulu’s actions, the CEO claimed that the company had in fact reduced its employment costs by 23 per cent.