MUN cracks widen
The branches have also lashed out at MUN acting president Desley Somseb for breaking ranks with other affiliates following a vote of no confidence against NUNW president Ismael Kasuto.
STAFF REPORTER
Three branches representing southern members of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) have openly criticised a decision taken by the national executive committee to drag other affiliates of the National of Namibian Workers Union (NUNW) to court over unpaid affiliation fees.
The members have also lashed out at MUN acting president Desley Somseb for breaking ranks with other affiliates following a vote of no confidence against NUNW president Ismael Kasuto, who was removed from office last month.
However, Kasuto has refused to budge, claiming he was still in charge of the largest umbrella body representing Namibian workers. He claimed decisions taken at the special central executive committee meeting were not unconstitutional.
This assertion has also been supported by Somseb.
He had called the decision to remove Kasuto invalid, as there was no extraordinary congress to decide on his fate.
“As the MUN, we, therefore, wish to state none of the decisions taken by the affiliates at the CEC meeting can be regarded as legitimate or constitutional,” Somseb was quoted as saying by The Namibian.
Yesterday the branch chairmen of Namdeb, Skorpion Zinc and Rosh Pinah issued a joint statement in which they criticised Somseb for the “miscalculated and irresponsible action” to drag NUNW affiliates to court.
“The fight that MUN is currently fighting is not MUN’s responsibility, but it’s the responsibility of NUNW to ensure that all affiliates are paid up,” the statement read.
“NUNW is empowered by its own constitution on how to deal with affiliates that are not adhering to the laid out procedures and rules. The costly court battles that MUN has undertaken are not in the best interests of the mineworkers’ union’s general membership and none of the MUN members are benefiting from such retrogressive action except Kasuto, Desley and co.”
The court case brought by the MUN national executive was dismissed and referred to the labour commissioner’s office. During the special central executive committee meeting of the NUNW, the MUN staged a walkout after a vote of no confidence was passed against Kasuto.
“It left the organisation (MUN) not represented in that CEC and therefore decisions were taken in their absence. If they knew that they were right in their arguments, they could have remained in the meeting and have their opinion and views properly recorded in the minutes for future reference,” the unionists said.
They claim affiliates of NUNW – even those who are not in good standing – have all along been attending meetings chaired by Kasuto and the outstanding fees have never been an issue.
The CEC meeting nominated delegates for the Swapo congress in November this year. NUNW is an affiliate of the ruling party.
Commentators have linked the infighting plaguing the unions to the battle of the soul of Swapo ahead of the upcoming elective congress.
“If Desley and Kasuto are dancing to the political music to please their political handlers, our advice to them is clear: they must go and play far at political arenas,” read the statement.
Three branches representing southern members of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) have openly criticised a decision taken by the national executive committee to drag other affiliates of the National of Namibian Workers Union (NUNW) to court over unpaid affiliation fees.
The members have also lashed out at MUN acting president Desley Somseb for breaking ranks with other affiliates following a vote of no confidence against NUNW president Ismael Kasuto, who was removed from office last month.
However, Kasuto has refused to budge, claiming he was still in charge of the largest umbrella body representing Namibian workers. He claimed decisions taken at the special central executive committee meeting were not unconstitutional.
This assertion has also been supported by Somseb.
He had called the decision to remove Kasuto invalid, as there was no extraordinary congress to decide on his fate.
“As the MUN, we, therefore, wish to state none of the decisions taken by the affiliates at the CEC meeting can be regarded as legitimate or constitutional,” Somseb was quoted as saying by The Namibian.
Yesterday the branch chairmen of Namdeb, Skorpion Zinc and Rosh Pinah issued a joint statement in which they criticised Somseb for the “miscalculated and irresponsible action” to drag NUNW affiliates to court.
“The fight that MUN is currently fighting is not MUN’s responsibility, but it’s the responsibility of NUNW to ensure that all affiliates are paid up,” the statement read.
“NUNW is empowered by its own constitution on how to deal with affiliates that are not adhering to the laid out procedures and rules. The costly court battles that MUN has undertaken are not in the best interests of the mineworkers’ union’s general membership and none of the MUN members are benefiting from such retrogressive action except Kasuto, Desley and co.”
The court case brought by the MUN national executive was dismissed and referred to the labour commissioner’s office. During the special central executive committee meeting of the NUNW, the MUN staged a walkout after a vote of no confidence was passed against Kasuto.
“It left the organisation (MUN) not represented in that CEC and therefore decisions were taken in their absence. If they knew that they were right in their arguments, they could have remained in the meeting and have their opinion and views properly recorded in the minutes for future reference,” the unionists said.
They claim affiliates of NUNW – even those who are not in good standing – have all along been attending meetings chaired by Kasuto and the outstanding fees have never been an issue.
The CEC meeting nominated delegates for the Swapo congress in November this year. NUNW is an affiliate of the ruling party.
Commentators have linked the infighting plaguing the unions to the battle of the soul of Swapo ahead of the upcoming elective congress.
“If Desley and Kasuto are dancing to the political music to please their political handlers, our advice to them is clear: they must go and play far at political arenas,” read the statement.
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