Works out of line, says Swanu

THE Ministry of Works acted outside the law when it reshuffled five of its top employees last week, the South West Africa National Union (Swanu) claims.

The Ministry moved Ben Kathindi, Under Secretary of Works, to the Department of Administration and Centralised Support to replace Willie Kauaria. Kauaria was transferred to the Department of Transport and Communication, where he replaced recently promoted Under Secretary Phillip Amunyela.Amunyela took over Kathindi’s job as Under Secretary of Works.Two other senior employees, Esther Kaapanda and Seth Awa-Eiseb, also got new postings.Kaapanda was appointed as the new Deputy Director of Communication to Personnel while Awa-Eiseb took over from Kaapanda as Deputy Director of Communication.Swanu President Dr Rihupisa Kandando told The Namibian that the appointments were illegal, as the Minister had no power to do it.He said the Public Service Act was clear that the Ministry was only supposed to make recommendations to the Public Service Commission for approval.”It is therefore Swanu’s submission that the Ministry of Works is acting outside the law and we are requesting them, as a matter of urgency, to rescind this decision,” Kandando said.He said the reversal of the decision would give a clear indication that the Ministry of Works respected public laws.Kandando also called on Prime Minister Nahas Angula to call the Ministry of Works to order.He said the positions were promotion posts as opposed to entry-level jobs and as such only the Public Service Commission had the authority to approve the moves.Kauaria was transferred to the Department of Transport and Communication, where he replaced recently promoted Under Secretary Phillip Amunyela.Amunyela took over Kathindi’s job as Under Secretary of Works.Two other senior employees, Esther Kaapanda and Seth Awa-Eiseb, also got new postings.Kaapanda was appointed as the new Deputy Director of Communication to Personnel while Awa-Eiseb took over from Kaapanda as Deputy Director of Communication.Swanu President Dr Rihupisa Kandando told The Namibian that the appointments were illegal, as the Minister had no power to do it.He said the Public Service Act was clear that the Ministry was only supposed to make recommendations to the Public Service Commission for approval.”It is therefore Swanu’s submission that the Ministry of Works is acting outside the law and we are requesting them, as a matter of urgency, to rescind this decision,” Kandando said.He said the reversal of the decision would give a clear indication that the Ministry of Works respected public laws.Kandando also called on Prime Minister Nahas Angula to call the Ministry of Works to order.He said the positions were promotion posts as opposed to entry-level jobs and as such only the Public Service Commission had the authority to approve the moves.