Truck drivers threaten to cripple economy

KAOKO Natanael has been a truck driver for over 16 years and still lives in a shack on his inherited erf at 7de Laan in Windhoek’s Otjomuise.

He has been struggling to construct a brick house for his family for the past three years.

“If it was not for that (inheritance) I would just have been a human being who is renting. With this economy of higher prices, I don’t think I could afford an erf,” he said.

He is one of the many lorry drivers who earn a basic salary of N$5 000 per month, unless he is able to reach a target of 19 000 km per month, which will see him earning N$17 000.

“We are not paid for our sweat, but for what we bring into the company. We don’t know the value of the loads, but it is a lot of money. But for one to earn a good salary, you must drive at least 20 000 km a month, and then you can maybe earn N$20 000 after deductions,” he said.

During an awareness meeting organised by the Namibia Revolutionary Transport Union (Naretu) at Walvis Bay yesterday, truck drivers mandated the union to organise a nationwide strike.

They are demanding better wages to improve their living standards.

Lorry driver Joseph Embula questioned if members of parliament know of their living conditions.

“To teach those in higher places, they must sleep with hunger for a whole month. The whole month, no trucks on the road. They need to be taught about hunger. We are tired,” said Embula.

Another cross-border lorry driver, Nambala Tomas agreed that a nationwide strike is the solution for the speedy implementation of a national basic salary for all sectors.

“We just give them seven days and the shops will be empty with no food or building materials. We cannot continue talking, because nothing will happen about the truck drivers’ issues,” he said.

Lorry driver Thomas Hauwanga said they are not afraid to lose their jobs as they are used to being fired.

“I have been chased away by many companies and I have not died. Even today as we speak, I don’t have a job because I was fired recently for not responding to a question while we were loading in Angola,” he said.

Naretu commander-in-chief Petersen Kambinda said the union will have to carry out the members’ mandate to organise the nationwide strike.

According to him, the lorry drivers have been frustrated for a long time.

“Had the economic freedom for the people been delivered before those unions? The answer is no,” he said.

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