NWR turnaround raises hackles

NAMIBIA Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has vowed to push ahead with its plans to reassign staff members at the head office despite criticism about a lack of consultation.

Several staff members, including married women, at the company’s Windhoek head office have been informed that they must report for duty at other posts on August 1. In some cases, the workers claim that they must find their own way to the new posts, while at least one was allegedly told that she must get herself a tent to live in at her new workplace.They claim that the new Managing Director, Tobie Aupindi, has reassigned a human resource specialist and computer expert to manage the front desk at Reho Spa in Rehoboth, while a sales and marketing person has been posted to Duwisib Castle, 72 km southwest of Maltahoehe.No consideration was given to employees who are studying or are married and have children in schools in the city, they claim.Aupindi yesterday denied that he had ignored the plight of the staff when deciding on the restructuring.He said representatives of the Namibia Public Workers’ Union and the Office of the Labour Commissioner were present when he explained his actions to the staff and told them they would be transferred at company cost and given accommodation.Aupindi said staff were being reassigned because the head office was overstaffed with qualified personnel whose experience could be better used in the regions.”The people we transfer will boost our operations in the regions.They have different dynamics and skills to impart to those in the regions.People resist change because they have comfort zones.But we can’t resist if we want profits,” he said.Aupindi presented a business plan and turnaround strategy to Cabinet recently and Government gave NWR a guarantee for a loan of N$120 million.The NWR, which runs 23 resorts and campsites in Namibia, is N$80 million in the red.Aupindi said only one person came to him to ask for more time to arrange personal matters before the transfer.”The bottom line is that change must happen to bring about prosperity.We want to get to the point where the NWR must pay dividends to the Government.We must start operating like any other business in the same industry,” he said.He said it was no secret that the NWR “was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit)” when he took over, with a lot of managerial and human deficiencies.”People should rather look at the productive side of things.We are in a competitive industry.That is why we want to introduce performance contracts and how to monitor them,” he said.He said “many” staff members would be transferred from the head office to other operations to enhance the company’s performance where it matters – the delivery of actual service to clients.In some cases, the workers claim that they must find their own way to the new posts, while at least one was allegedly told that she must get herself a tent to live in at her new workplace.They claim that the new Managing Director, Tobie Aupindi, has reassigned a human resource specialist and computer expert to manage the front desk at Reho Spa in Rehoboth, while a sales and marketing person has been posted to Duwisib Castle, 72 km southwest of Maltahoehe.No consideration was given to employees who are studying or are married and have children in schools in the city, they claim.Aupindi yesterday denied that he had ignored the plight of the staff when deciding on the restructuring.He said representatives of the Namibia Public Workers’ Union and the Office of the Labour Commissioner were present when he explained his actions to the staff and told them they would be transferred at company cost and given accommodation.Aupindi said staff were being reassigned because the head office was overstaffed with qualified personnel whose experience could be better used in the regions.”The people we transfer will boost our operations in the regions.They have different dynamics and skills to impart to those in the regions.People resist change because they have comfort zones.But we can’t resist if we want profits,” he said.Aupindi presented a business plan and turnaround strategy to Cabinet recently and Government gave NWR a guarantee for a loan of N$120 million.The NWR, which runs 23 resorts and campsites in Namibia, is N$80 million in the red.Aupindi said only one person came to him to ask for more time to arrange personal matters before the transfer.”The bottom line is that change must happen to bring about prosperity.We want to get to the point where the NWR must pay dividends to the Government.We must start operating like any other business in the same industry,” he said.He said it was no secret that the NWR “was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit)” when he took over, with a lot of managerial and human deficiencies.”People should rather look at the productive side of things.We are in a competitive industry.That is why we want to introduce performance contracts and how to monitor them,” he said.He said “many” staff members would be transferred from the head office to other operations to enhance the company’s performance where it matters – the delivery of actual service to clients.