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Union rankled by land ‘invader’ tag

Union rankled by land ‘invader’ tag

THE Namibia Farmworkers Union (Nafwu) says the media is to blame for claims that the union was planning to “invade” Ongombo West.

General Secretary Alfred Angula maintained at a press conference on Friday that the union had no intention of invading or taking over the farm. He accused the media of “irresponsible reporting” by claiming that the Government and the Police had blocked them from entering or occupying Ongombo West.Angula said they wanted to “resettle” six fired and evicted workers on the farm, not “invade” the land.The Wiese family – the owners of Ongombo West – has rejected the union’s demand that they issue a public apology and re-employ dismissed workers.The owners maintain they followed all the correct procedures.Earlier last week, Nafwu national organiser Samson Amupanda said the Wiese family would be compelled to vacate the farm after they failed to respond to the union’s demands.On Friday, Angula refused to divulge the union’s next move.But, he said: “We will employ all possible methods to ensure that our members are resettled at those farms”.He said after resettling evicted former workers of Ongombo West, the union leadership would target Krumhuk where its president Asser Hendricks was retrenched.The union claims the owners failed to follow the right procedures in both cases.”Currently, we have started a mass mobilisation of our members and supporters to ensure a final victory in this just cause.A people united shall never be defeated and we shall never be defeated,” Angula said.He accused the media of “irresponsible reporting” by claiming that the Government and the Police had blocked them from entering or occupying Ongombo West. Angula said they wanted to “resettle” six fired and evicted workers on the farm, not “invade” the land. The Wiese family – the owners of Ongombo West – has rejected the union’s demand that they issue a public apology and re-employ dismissed workers. The owners maintain they followed all the correct procedures. Earlier last week, Nafwu national organiser Samson Amupanda said the Wiese family would be compelled to vacate the farm after they failed to respond to the union’s demands. On Friday, Angula refused to divulge the union’s next move. But, he said: “We will employ all possible methods to ensure that our members are resettled at those farms”. He said after resettling evicted former workers of Ongombo West, the union leadership would target Krumhuk where its president Asser Hendricks was retrenched. The union claims the owners failed to follow the right procedures in both cases. “Currently, we have started a mass mobilisation of our members and supporters to ensure a final victory in this just cause. A people united shall never be defeated and we shall never be defeated,” Angula said.

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