‘Unbelievable!’ Union hits at apathy on TransNamib

THE National Union of Namibian Workers says Government needs to rein in the top management at TransNamib.

Addressing the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau) congress at Gobabis on Saturday, NUNW Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda told delegates that the umbrella body was unhappy with how TransNamib was managed and the treatment its workers received. He singled out Trans­Namib’s Chief Executive Officer John Shaetonhodi and said Government should already have acted on recommendations made by the Ombudsman’s Office after a five-month probe into allegations of corruption, favouritism and nepotism at TransNamib.The report was finalised in October last year and handed over to the company’s Board of Directors.It confirmed that there had been irregularities in the awarding of tenders and jobs.”The report from the Office of the Ombudsman made very specific recommendations on TransNamib but the Government is silent on it.Why? We all know what is happening at TransNamib but why is Government ignoring it?” Kaaronda asked.Senior TransNamib managers Godhardt !Howaeb, Bernhardt !Gaeb, Moses Mbai and Erenfried ‘Tjivi’ Ndjoonduezu were booted for alleged “poor time management and absenteeism” and they have taken the company to court.In the case of !Gaeb and Ndjoonduezu, the District Labour Court ruled in their favour while the other cases are still pending.However, the company appealed against the outcome, thus prolonging the cases while the others were still waiting for their rulings.”People were reinstated by the court but Shaetonhodi is using State resources to fight his personal battles.At the end it will be at huge cost for the Government.”We find it unbelievable that no one is acting against him when he does things that are in blatant violation of company policies,” Kaaronda said.The TransNamib board suspended its Human Resources General Manager, Jason Hamunyela, in November last year for awarding a tender to a security company in which he reportedly had interests.His disciplinary hearing continued last week but the outcome has yet to be announced.He singled out Trans­Namib’s Chief Executive Officer John Shaetonhodi and said Government should already have acted on recommendations made by the Ombudsman’s Office after a five-month probe into allegations of corruption, favouritism and nepotism at TransNamib.The report was finalised in October last year and handed over to the company’s Board of Directors.It confirmed that there had been irregularities in the awarding of tenders and jobs.”The report from the Office of the Ombudsman made very specific recommendations on TransNamib but the Government is silent on it.Why? We all know what is happening at TransNamib but why is Government ignoring it?” Kaaronda asked.Senior TransNamib managers Godhardt !Howaeb, Bernhardt !Gaeb, Moses Mbai and Erenfried ‘Tjivi’ Ndjoonduezu were booted for alleged “poor time management and absenteeism” and they have taken the company to court.In the case of !Gaeb and Ndjoonduezu, the District Labour Court ruled in their favour while the other cases are still pending.However, the company appealed against the outcome, thus prolonging the cases while the others were still waiting for their rulings.”People were reinstated by the court but Shaetonhodi is using State resources to fight his personal battles.At the end it will be at huge cost for the Government.”We find it unbelievable that no one is acting against him when he does things that are in blatant violation of company policies,” Kaaronda said.The TransNamib board suspended its Human Resources General Manager, Jason Hamunyela, in November last year for awarding a tender to a security company in which he reportedly had interests.His disciplinary hearing continued last week but the outcome has yet to be announced.