No word on suspended TransNamib top manager

THE fate of TransNamib’s Human Resources General Manager Jason Hamunyela remains unknown seven months after he was suspended with full pay for private dealings and alleged favouritism.

Well-placed sources at the transport parastatal say Hamunyela’s disciplinary hearing was supposed to start last Wednesday but was postponed because he had no legal representation. Hamunyela was suspended with full pay in November to allow for a smooth investigation.The Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Foibe Jacobs, said earlier that they had set in motion the disciplinary process against Hamunyela but pleaded for time and space from the media.This week TransNamib and other board members referred all inquiries to her.However, she could not be reached to confirm the date to which the case has been postponed because she was out of the country.Earlier she said it was normal procedure to suspend someone in charge of a department to allow an unhindered investigation.The suspension followed a report presented to the Board by the Office of the Ombudsman.The Namibian has it on good authority that the report said that the right procedures were not followed in appointing some staff members.In December 2004, The Namibian revealed details of the appointment of a string of people close to Hamunyela and Chief Executive Officer John Shaetonhodi.Late last year a string of letters and secret memos were e-mailed to TransNamib staff.They claimed that Hamunyela was using company property to conduct private consultancy work and that he had raised his own salary by 43 per cent.Hamunyela’s invoices to the Roads Contractor Company for around N$22 000 for consultancy work were attached to the series of letters and documents.He did a survey for the RCC on the Chief Executive Officer’s salary package.In another case, Hamunyela conducted a disciplinary hearing for the Namibia Tourism Board on behalf of Preferred Labour Solutions (PLS) and used his work computer to bill them.A PLS document found on Hamunyela’s computer indicated that he had “a strategic working relationship” with the company.According to the documents, Hamunyela increased his own salary from N$226 260 a year to N$324 240 in June 2004 – an increase of N$97 980 or 43,3 per cent.The circulated documents demanded that Hamunyela be charged with breach of trust, fraud and disobedience.”How can the company you are working for trust you when you are stealing the company’s time and resources to run a full-fledged business while on their payroll? Specifically a management position,” the memo attached to the documents asked.Two employees, Ben Serogwe, a security officer, and Angus Pym from the information technology department have since been fired in connection with the letters.They have taken their cases to the Labour Court in Windhoek.Hamunyela was suspended with full pay in November to allow for a smooth investigation.The Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Foibe Jacobs, said earlier that they had set in motion the disciplinary process against Hamunyela but pleaded for time and space from the media.This week TransNamib and other board members referred all inquiries to her.However, she could not be reached to confirm the date to which the case has been postponed because she was out of the country.Earlier she said it was normal procedure to suspend someone in charge of a department to allow an unhindered investigation.The suspension followed a report presented to the Board by the Office of the Ombudsman.The Namibian has it on good authority that the report said that the right procedures were not followed in appointing some staff members.In December 2004, The Namibian revealed details of the appointment of a string of people close to Hamunyela and Chief Executive Officer John Shaetonhodi.Late last year a string of letters and secret memos were e-mailed to TransNamib staff.They claimed that Hamunyela was using company property to conduct private consultancy work and that he had raised his own salary by 43 per cent.Hamunyela’s invoices to the Roads Contractor Company for around N$22 000 for consultancy work were attached to the series of letters and documents.He did a survey for the RCC on the Chief Executive Officer’s salary package.In another case, Hamunyela conducted a disciplinary hearing for the Namibia Tourism Board on behalf of Preferred Labour Solutions (PLS) and used his work computer to bill them.A PLS document found on Hamunyela’s computer indicated that he had “a strategic working relationship” with the company.According to the documents, Hamunyela increased his own salary from N$226 260 a year to N$324 240 in June 2004 – an increase of N$97 980 or 43,3 per cent.The circulated documents demanded that Hamunyela be charged with breach of trust, fraud and disobedience.”How can the company you are working for trust you when you are stealing the company’s time and resources to run a full-fledged business while on their payroll? Specifically a management position,” the memo attached to the documents asked.Two employees, Ben Serogwe, a security officer, and Angus Pym from the information technology department have since been fired in connection with the letters.They have taken their cases to the Labour Court in Windhoek.