Mutorwa sets tone on TransNamib railway tender

Works and transport minister John Mutorwa has directed the TransNamib board of directors to discuss its alleged plan to give full and free use of the Ariamsvlei-Lüderitz railway line to Grindrod Rail, headed by the company’s former CEO Johny Smith.This follows a plea from the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau) to the minister to stop TransNamib&#039;s bidding process by way of an invitation for expressions of interest for the use of the railway line from Ariamsvlei to the port of Lüderitz for the next five years.In a letter dated 18 August, the union asked the minister to respond to them by 21 August.Mutorwa forwarded the Natau letter to TransNamib chairperson Theo Mberirua on 18 August, underlining several issues cited in the letter and demanding an explanation. "I advise and direct the board and management to convene an urgent board meeting. Discuss the letter’s content, engage with Natau, and respond directly to Natau in writing. Give me a copy of the TransNamib Holding Limited board’s written responses thereafter. Thank you all."‘Orchestrated plan’The workers cautioned TransNamib against giving the contract to Grindrod Rail, saying recent partnerships with the company have resulted in "complete failure", in addition to derailments and accidents."This is an orchestrated plan that we, as employees and as a union, advised against. We advised that TransNamib source lease locos in order for us to rail the freight from Ariamsvlei to the port of Lüderitz in order to generate the much-needed revenue to keep the company afloat, as opposed to Grindrod Rail to use the line for free as is currently," Narina Pollmann, acting general-secretary Natau, wrote.She further questioned why Grindrod Rail allegedly refuses to renegotiate the current "unfavourable agreement" and suggested that this is equivalent to alienating part of the national railway infrastructure.Profitable opportunity Natau insists that the agreement will lead to the collapse of TransNamib, massive job losses and the inability to repay its current government guarantee for much-needed rolling stock and equipment, including locomotives and wagons."This line has the capacity of at least 150 000 tonnes per month of cross-border freight, representing an annual revenue of N$800 million, which is significantly more than the current total annual revenue of TransNamib. TransNamib could make a profit [from] this line if it is managed properly."The bid is currently running until 20 September and TransNamib undertakes to provide a weighing motion bridge, rolling stock inspection, train control systems, telecom services, including a radio system, and access to land for warehouses at Ariamsvlei and Lüderitz. This will be separately priced outside of the access rate.Additionally, TransNamibia will provide access to fuelling stations at Keetmanshoop and Aus, along with trained personnel such as train drivers, assistants, inspectors, and shunters.TransNamib will cover line maintenance, accident investigations, and the necessary permissions for operating within Namibia.Reluctant to commentYesterday, Smith said these are deliberate attempts by ill-intentioned individuals to tarnish his name.He also said Grindrod Rail has not yet submitted a bid but added: "Whether it is our company or any other company that submits a bid, we are free to do so – it is an open process. But I cannot disclose that [whether they will submit a bid]."Smith also implored Namibians, especially the media, to leave him alone, pointing out that he had done his duty at TransNamib."Don&#039;t call me in future – I don&#039;t know why people cannot leave me alone. I am not going to leave it here anymore; the media has been publishing many untruths about me. I am feeling like I should start a legal process," he said.National Union of Namibian Workers secretary general Job Muniaro, an affiliate federation to Natau, said they will wait for two more days to hear from TransNamib directors after the deadline passed on Monday.Mberirua could not be reached for comment.jemima@namibiansun.com

Mutorwa sets tone on TransNamib railway tender

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

Please login to leave a comment

Mutorwa sets tone on TransNamib railway tender

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

Please login to leave a comment

Login