NEFF jeopardising road projects – Manwu
Union called ‘useless’
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters has been accused of meddling in labour issues in a ploy to curry favour ahead of the 2024 elections.
The Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) has accused the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) of intentionally creating labour unrest at various construction projects it had bargaining status at. This is a ploy on the part of the party to gain favour in the run-up to the 2024 elections, union president Angula Angula said.
“In the past few weeks, we have witnessed some of the road infrastructure projects we organised disrupted by NEFF with political motives. We suspect this to be a ploy by political parties, especially NEFF, to gain popularity ahead of the national elections in 2024,” he said.
“These disruptions are associated with name calling and accusations towards Manwu; that we are useless and dis-servicing our members,” he added.
NEFF had also claimed unfair victories over labour matters the union had already resolved, Angula said.
“We won battles that include the recent popularised projects where Manwu did cleaning up with these projects, just for NEFF to come claim glory on work done by Manwu. It is a pity that innocent workers are being used for political motives.”
Disrupted process
The party is further accused of undoing work on the Gibeon-Tses road construction project, which the union had come close to resolving.
Workers on that project had complained of poor working conditions, indecent salaries and the unavailability of accommodation and potable water at Asab camp, among other things.
“We were advised by the shop stewards that the workers were not happy, hence we communicated to the project manager to give us a date for the parties to engage on the matter. Before reaching that point, workers downed tools without our knowledge. This was because NEFF got involved and disrupted the process Manwu was busy with,” Angula said.
Another project the party had disrupted was the construction of the first phase of the Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International Airport dual-carriageway.
Avic International, the company contracted, was accused of deducting workers’ money from their salaries and not handing it over to the revenue authorities.
Angula said NEFF showed up at the construction site and met up with workers despite matters having favourably been resolved.
“Our team in Khomas went to the site around 09:00 and met with the management and agreed in the meeting that workers will be refunded their money. Our team left and NEFF arrived there after and engaged in the same discussion with the same outcome,” he said.
NEFF second-in-command Kalimbo Iipumbu reiterated that Manwu was “useless”.
“That union is useless. NEFF was called there by the workers. They are not representing the workers; they are captured,” he said briefly.
“In the past few weeks, we have witnessed some of the road infrastructure projects we organised disrupted by NEFF with political motives. We suspect this to be a ploy by political parties, especially NEFF, to gain popularity ahead of the national elections in 2024,” he said.
“These disruptions are associated with name calling and accusations towards Manwu; that we are useless and dis-servicing our members,” he added.
NEFF had also claimed unfair victories over labour matters the union had already resolved, Angula said.
“We won battles that include the recent popularised projects where Manwu did cleaning up with these projects, just for NEFF to come claim glory on work done by Manwu. It is a pity that innocent workers are being used for political motives.”
Disrupted process
The party is further accused of undoing work on the Gibeon-Tses road construction project, which the union had come close to resolving.
Workers on that project had complained of poor working conditions, indecent salaries and the unavailability of accommodation and potable water at Asab camp, among other things.
“We were advised by the shop stewards that the workers were not happy, hence we communicated to the project manager to give us a date for the parties to engage on the matter. Before reaching that point, workers downed tools without our knowledge. This was because NEFF got involved and disrupted the process Manwu was busy with,” Angula said.
Another project the party had disrupted was the construction of the first phase of the Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International Airport dual-carriageway.
Avic International, the company contracted, was accused of deducting workers’ money from their salaries and not handing it over to the revenue authorities.
Angula said NEFF showed up at the construction site and met up with workers despite matters having favourably been resolved.
“Our team in Khomas went to the site around 09:00 and met with the management and agreed in the meeting that workers will be refunded their money. Our team left and NEFF arrived there after and engaged in the same discussion with the same outcome,” he said.
NEFF second-in-command Kalimbo Iipumbu reiterated that Manwu was “useless”.
“That union is useless. NEFF was called there by the workers. They are not representing the workers; they are captured,” he said briefly.
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